Cambodia have announced the naturalization of Japanese defender Takaki Ose, Colombian striker Andres Nieto, and Ivorian attacker Abdel Kader Coulibaly, with the trio being included in Cambodia’s final squad for the upcoming 2024/25 AFF Championship.
Takaki, Andres, and Abdel will join Japanese defender Hikaru Mizuno, South African defender Mohammed Khan (now being addressed with his Khmer name Kan Mo), and Japanese midfielder Yudai Ogawa as Cambodia’s latest addition to their naturalization program.
Additionally American-born Nick Taylor, who has Cambodian heritage, was also being called-up to the Kouprey‘s AFF Championship squad. Nick had already secured his Cambodian citizenship prior to the six, and has made 16 appearances for the national team.
Bali United’s Cameroonian striker Jean Befolo Mbarga, who had spent eight years in Cambodia, had also received his Cambodian citizenship, however issues with his legal documents meant that FIFA had barred Mbarga from representing Cambodia, at least for the near future.
Takaki, Andres, and Abdel had received their Cambodian citizenship after spending a good portion of their careers within the country.
Currently plying his trade at Phnom Penh Crown, Takaki had spent five years in Cambodia, having earlier represented Angkor Tiger for a single season before moving to Phnom Penh.
Takaki’s teammate Andres has also spent five years in Cambodia, all of them at Phnom Penh Crown, with the Colombia-born attacker chalking up 80 appearances and scoring 55 times for the capital-based club.
Abdel, on the other hand, spent the entirety of his recorded career in Cambodia, which started in 2018 when he joined Asia Euro United, before moving to National Police Commissary in 2020 and current club ISI Dangkor Senchey in 2022.
Koji Gyotoku’s Cambodia side are drawn into Group A, alongside defending AFF Championship winners Thailand, regional rivals Malaysia and Singapore, and minnows Timor-Leste.