Ghana goalkeeper Razak Abalora is hopeful that playing his club football in Tanzania won't wreck his international future with the Black Stars after swapping WAFA for Azam FC.
Abalora was considered among the best goalkeepers in the Ghana Premier League after accruing the most clean sheets this season, and had risen to become first choice for the home-based Black Stars before making a move to Tanzania last month.
Players featuring in other leagues across Africa - such as Tanzania and Zambia - have struggled to impress national selectors, but Abalora is optimistic that he can still impress Kwesi Appiah.
"I hope that will not be the case," Abalora told KweseESPN. "I think regardless of where you play, you deserve as much a chance as anyone else and I have moved to Tanzania very confident that if I do well, I will get my chance.
"The fact that I could be playing in African cup competitions should, in fact, be an advantage so I am looking forward to that opportunity," he added. "If it comes, I will grab it with both hands, otherwise I will continue to work hard till I get my chance." Abalora's end game is to nab a contract with a European club, but the goalkeeper is confident that a move to East Africa is a step that takes him closer to his ultimate aim.
"When you play [in Tanzania] you build a whole new level of experience that will definitely help one day," he continued. "If I take my time here seriously enough, then I will become a better goalkeeper and hopefully take that with me.
"It is not always about the league you play in," he continued. "It is also about what you learn from it and I honestly believe playing here will make me a better goalkeeper as I seek to improve."
The 20-year-old stopper signed a three-year deal with Azam after leaving title-chasing WAFA.