The FC Cincinnati new recruit has received a maiden call-up to the Slovakia U21 team for the next month's UEFA Euro U-21 qualifiers.
Head coach of the Slovakia U-21 team, Jaroslav Kentos, has handed an invitation to Ghanaian-born midfielder Samuel Mawuena Gidi for the crucial 2027 UEFA Euro U-21 qualifiers against Andorra and Moldova in September.
Gidi, who was born in Ghana and nurtured by the famous Accra-based MSK Zilina Africa through its academy system, received his Slovakian passport last month to finalise his nationality switch.
The 21-year-old applied for a Slovakian passport in April as part of his process to switch his allegiance from Ghana to the European nation and represent them on the international stage.
Gidi joined Slovakian top-flight league side MSK Zilina in 2022 from its feeder club in Ghana and rose through the club's ranks, becoming a regular starter in the first team and featuring in 106 matches, scoring seven times and providing eight assists during his stay.
He was signed by MLS club FC Cincinnati on a long-term contract in a deal worth €1.7 million from MSK Zilina in this summer transfer window.
In December 2024, Gidi was named one of the most talented under-21 players in world football by CIES Football Observatory.
The former MSK Zilina starlet becomes the newest footballer to naturalise for Slovakia after Togolese-born Karim Guede and Vernon De Marco.
Gidi is expected to make his debut when the Slovakian U-21 team faces Andorra and Moldova on 5th and 9th September in the 2027 UEFA Euro U-21 Qualifiers.
Samuel Gidi is an incredible talent, Kentos says
Slovakia U-21 head coach Jaroslav Kentos lauded the unique qualities of the Ghanaian-born after he had applied for the Slovak passport, and expressed his desire to have him for the 2025 UEFA Euro U-21 tournament.
However, Kentos and his technical team couldn't get him to feature for the host nation of the tournament in June, as his international allegiance application wasn't complete until it was finalised last month.
“He’s got the quality for us to monitor him. If he proves himself to be among the best, he’ll go to the Euros. If not, he won’t. The competition is fierce,” Kentos said.
Gidi was never considered for a future call-up to any of the national teams by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) despite his blistering performances in the Slovakian top-flight league for the past two seasons.
Below is the Slovakia U-21 squad list for 2027 EURO Qualifiers
By: Gideon Kofi Nyamekye & Courage Qwame Dzide
