Mavuba likely to fill Vieira gap against Irish

FRANCE’S midfield options for the World Cup qualifier against Ireland in Paris next month increased yesterday when Rio Mavuba obtained French citizenship.

The 20-year-old Bordeaux anchorman, whose stamina has earned comparisons with Jean Tigana, made his international debut against Bosnia-Herzegovina last month as a stateless person but was ineligible for France’s subsequent World Cup ties against Israel and the Faroe Islands, having been born to Zairean parents aboard a refugee boat on the open seas.

Now a confirmed French citizen, however, Mavuba is likely to figure in manager Raymond Domenech’s plans to fill the gap left by the suspended Patrick Vieira against Brian Kerr’s team. And Mavuba yesterday pledged his future to France by turning down a chance to play for the Congo against Ghana in a World Cup qualifier on October 10.