Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (R) of PSG and Marvin Senaya of Auxerre in action. EPA/YOAN VALAT
Tuesday Mar 17, 2026. 12:52
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed that AJ Auxerre defender Marvin Senaya has committed to represent Ghana.
The French-born right-back was named in the 26-man Black Stars squad for the nation’s upcoming international friendlies against Austria and Germany at the end of the month in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
He was also named in the 36-member Togolese preliminary squad for their upcoming fixtures against Guinea and Niger as part of the Morocco, Capital of African Football tournament. This was his first call-up for the country, alongside 11 other players who were named in the preliminary squad for the first time.
Senaya is the son of Yao Mawuko Sènaya, who earned 39 caps for Togo, and the nephew of Yao Junior Sènaya who collected 32 caps for the west African nation.
Despite his father and uncle having represented Togo, GFA communications director Henry Asante Twum confirmed that the association has had several engagements with Senaya and would not name him in its squad without his or his club’s consent.
“Without a player’s word, I think it will be unprofessional to announce a squad when the player hasn’t agreed, when the club hasn’t agreed. There is that assurance that he would make it. The FA has been engaging him a number of times. We’ve had conversations with him over a long period of time, and he has accepted to play for [Ghana],” said Asante Twum, speaking on Tv3’s Sports Station.
Despite the player having pledged to play for Ghana, Senaya has yet to receive a favourable Change of Association decision from the Players’ Status Chamber of the FIFA Football Tribunal, which must be done for a player to change his playing nationality, as he is still listed as French.
The Ligue 1 defender will surely offer a boost to an already talent-filled Black Stars side which looks ready and poised to tackle the upcoming World Cup.
By Nic Gleeson