Nana Kwesi Asare likely to ditch Ghana for Belgium

KAA Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck has hinted his vice-captain Nana Kwesi Asare could soon naturalize to play for Belgium.

Vanhaezebrouck is excited about the prospect of his club producing a fourth player to play for the Red Devils after Sven Kums, Matz Sels and Laurent Depoitre.

According to reports, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots is convinced about the qualities of the Kumasi-born player who has captained sides like KV Mechelen and FC Utrecht.

Asare, 29, has not played competitive football for Ghana but was Ghana’s bench during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.

The crafty left back was subsequently called up for friendly matches, but the departure of head coach Claude Le Roy meant he was overlooked by the Frenchman's successors.

He arrived in Belgium in 2005 and played four seasons for KV Mechelen before leaving for Dutch side FC Utrecht.

"There has been no official contact," Asare told Het Nieuwsblad. "But I'm certainly open to good ideas. It is certainly possible because I was just playing friendly matches for Ghana."

Asare has been a key performer for the Belgian champions both home and in Europe.

The former WAFA (formerly Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord Academy) trainee is the most consistent Ghanaian player in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

He played in every single Group stage match as Gent qualified to the knockout round.