Might a former Celtic hero help Haiti surprise Scotland?

"Edouard scored 57 goals in 94 league matches for Celtic between 2018 and 2021, helping them to successive domestic trebles. Now playing for Lens in Ligue 1, the 28-year-old represented France at youth level but has never played for them at senior international level. His parents are of Haitian heritage, hence they are hoping to recruit him for the World Cup. Nothing is guaranteed, though, as convincing players to represent countries they were not born in and have maybe never visited can be tricky."

""Edouard is a possibility, but the player is also French - he might be called up for France," Fifa agent Jerome Salbert, who works closely with the Haiti FA in talent ID and recruitment, told BBC Sport. "His father is Haitian but he was raised in France. It is difficult for him to decide if he accepts, as he would prefer to play for France.""

"Since the country was devastated by an earthquake in 2010, armed gangs have been in an ongoing battle with government forces and have seized much of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. It has left more than a million people homeless and caused widespread food shortages. From a football perspective, Haiti qualified for the World Cup despite being unable to play any of their qualifiers at home. Their manager, Frenchman Sebastian Migne, has never been to Haiti as it too dangerous for foreigners to travel there."

Haiti will begin Group C on 14 June against Scotland and aims to cause an upset. The squad includes Premier League and other European-based players with Haitian ancestry, such as Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor, with Odsonne Edouard a potential addition. Edouard scored 57 goals in 94 league matches for Celtic from 2018 to 2021 and later plays for Lens in Ligue 1. He represented France at youth level but has not played for France at senior level, and his Haitian heritage comes from his parents. Off the field, Haiti faces severe instability after a 2010 earthquake, with armed gangs controlling parts of Port-au-Prince, widespread homelessness, and food shortages. Haiti qualified despite being unable to play qualifiers at home, and the manager Sebastian Migne has not visited Haiti due to safety concerns.

Read at www.bbc.com