France’s new manager, Zinedine Zidane, has included Lens defender Ismaïlo Ganiou in his provisional squad for their upcoming game against Turkey.
The 21-year-old is on the verge of making his senior debut for France under Zidane, despite having previously featured for Burkina Faso.
He has received a preliminary call-up ahead of the squad announcement scheduled for September 18, a recognition of his impressive performances at club level.
As reported by RMC Sport, Ganiou has made it onto Zidane’s provisional list after capturing the attention of the new coach during his time at Lens.
His standout performance came during the Champions Trophy match against Paris Saint-Germain, which Zidane watched from the stands at the Bollaert, allowing him to closely evaluate the young defender.
Ganiou’s strong form has continued, as he marked his Champions League debut with an impressive performance in a thrilling 3-2 victory away at Slavia Prague, where he emerged as one of the most notable players in the French team’s defence.
Ganiou previously played for Burkina Faso in a friendly match in June 2025 before deciding to represent France. He also participated in two matches for the France Under-21s last March.
Zidane’s provisional squad also includes Ganiou’s Lens teammates Florian Thauvin and Mathieu Udol, both of whom have already represented France.
Zidane names Lens defender Ganiou in France preliminary squad