Việt kiều Adou Minh: 'I was nervous when called up to Vietnam national team'

Hanoi, September 22 — On a crisp autumn morning in Hanoi, a journey spanning nearly a decade has just been officially bonded with the national team jersey. Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh, known as Adou Minh, a 27-year-old center-back with French-Vietnamese citizenship, completed his naturalization process on August 21 and was immediately called up by head coach Kim Sang-sik to the Vietnam squad for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The first stop of this journey was not a stadium, but a small house on the outskirts of Hanoi, where a mother embraced her son after 27 years apart. "It's not easy for him to wear the national team jersey. This is a great honor," she said with trembling voice, as if witnessing the days when her son first learned to kick a ball on the streets of Lyon. Adou Minh began his professional career at age 18 at clubs in France's fourth and fifth tiers. Nine years competing in leagues described as "luxurious" by European standards shaped him into a tenacious defender, unafraid of direct confrontations and physical challenges. This playing style fits perfectly with the philosophy head coach Kim Sang-sik is building for the Vietnam national team. In early 2026, he joined Ha Tinh under the Việt kiều (overseas Vietnamese) slot — a mechanism formally adopted by the V-League from the previous season, allowing clubs to register up to two players with foreign citizenship but Vietnamese heritage. After just one season, Hanoi Police (CAHN) — considered the V-League's most financially powerful club — quickly recruited him as a key center-back for their championship ambitions. "I had no problems playing football. Even on the first day of training, I could have played," Adou Minh shared in a brief press conference before departure. This reflects the confidence of a player who quickly adapted to V-League pace, though he admits daily life is still in the "familiarization" phase. According to Adou Minh, the call-up news came through a short phone call from CAHN's management. The club representative joked it was "good news that needed to be said right away." Immediately, his phone exploded with hundreds of congratulatory messages from family, friends, and fans who had followed his journey from France. "I'm grateful to everyone for their support. Family and friends in France are also very happy," he shared. Notably, his mother — who had watched every step of her son's career since childhood — couldn't hide her emotions upon learning her son would wear the national team jersey. A notable feature of this training camp is the strong presence of CAHN players in the national team squad. Five to six familiar faces from the club have been called up, creating a "CAHN bloc" within the national team dressing room. According to analysts, this is both an advantage and a challenge: an advantage due to tactical and playing style cohesion built from the club, but also raising questions about whether these players might be overloaded juggling club and national team duties. The team departs on the morning of September 22 for Indonesia — the tournament host. However, the announced schedule reveals three matches within less than a week: against the Philippines (September 26), Thailand (September 29), and Pakistan (October 2). With only three days to integrate into Kim Sang-sik's tactical system, the challenge for Adou Minh is considerable. Thanh Chung — an experienced international center-back — withdrew from the squad citing physical overload after an intense schedule of club and national team matches. Simultaneously, captain Nguyen Quang Hai will miss the tournament due to an ankle injury. These two absences create a significant gap in Vietnam's defensive and midfield lines. "I was sad when I heard about Quang Hai's inability to play. He's a symbolic player for the national team," Adou Minh expressed. However, he emphasized that injuries are part of football and the team must focus on the common goal. It is in this context that Adou Minh's position becomes more important than ever. Not merely a personnel addition, he brings fresh energy to a defense missing two pillars. Though lacking international experience, the 27-year-old defender is expected to provide the necessary stability in the crucial matches ahead. The match against Thailand on September 29 is predicted to be Vietnam's toughest test at this tournament. The historic rivalry between the two Southeast Asian football nations always creates a special atmosphere whenever they meet. The 2-2 draw in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final — if confirmed — demonstrated the balance between the two teams. "Every match is important, but for Vietnam, the match against Thailand holds special significance. I understand that and am ready to give my all," Adou Minh shared. He also set a simple but clear goal: "We want to win 3 points in every match." Adou Minh's journey from France's lower leagues to the Vietnam national team is not just a touching personal story. It reflects an emerging trend in Vietnamese football: exploiting the overseas Vietnamese player pool in Europe as an alternative talent recruitment channel. The Việt kiều slot mechanism adopted by the V-League since 2026 opened doors for players like Adou Minh. They don't occupy regular foreign player slots, but bring passport advantages — after naturalization, they become domestic players, freeing the Việt kiều slot for clubs to exploit further. For CAHN, having 5-6 players in the national team is not only a source of pride but also a strategic advantage. This player bloc functions as a "squad within a squad" in the national team, helping the integration process proceed faster and ensuring consistency in football philosophy between club and country. With his first national team jersey in hand and a long journey ahead, Adou Minh faces an opportunity to prove that the path from France's lower divisions can indeed lead to the pinnacle. Three days of integration, three matches in one week, and a traditional rival like Thailand at the end — challenges are plentiful, but opportunities are equally clear. "I'm nervous but confident. The Vietnam national team has collective strength, and I'll give my all for this jersey," he concluded in his final interview before departure. The opening match against the Philippines on September 26 will be the first real test for both Adou Minh and the Vietnam national team. Can this Việt kiều newcomer exceed expectations and become a new pillar of the defense? The answer will emerge in the coming weeks.