Audio By Carbonatix
Ivory Coast have announced their 26-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha involved for the first time in nearly two years.
Head Coach Emerse Fae has recalled Zaha, with the 33-year-old impressing for Major League Soccer club Charlotte this season while on loan from Galatasaray.
Four Premier League players have been called up - Nottingham Forest's Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly, Wolves' Emmanuel Agbadou and Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.
Sunderland winger Simon Adingra, who was a breakout figure when the Ivory Coast won the title in 2023, has not been selected. Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand will be on standby in case of pre-tournament withdrawals.
The competition kicks off on 21 December - when hosts Morocco take on Comoros - but Fifa has said clubs don't have to release players until 15 December, which is seven days later than the usual timing before major tournaments.
The 24 teams have been split into six groups of four and the holders have been drawn into Group F alongside five-time winners Cameroon as well as Gabon and Mozambique.
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolves), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (Roma), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Armel Zohouri (Iberia 1999)
Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Rennes), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Metz), Christ Inao Oulai (Trabzonspor), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (Maribor)
Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Sebastien Haller (Utrecht), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte)
Reserves: Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi)
Latest Stories
-
Four more men freed from flooded Laos cave after 10 days
2 minutes -
Millions of breast cancer patients could safely avoid chemotherapy, study suggests
4 minutes -
Liverpool sack head coach Slot
5 minutes -
600 more Ghanaians register for evacuation from South Africa – Ablakwa
16 minutes -
First Lady joins mourners at funeral of Sammy Gyamfi’s father-in-law
22 minutes -
Xenophobic attacks: Abu Jinapor warns against retaliatory attacks on South Africans
23 minutes -
Abu Jinapor urges African Union action over xenophobic attacks in South Africa
34 minutes -
Ghanaian teacher was detained at Dulles Airport for over a week after admitting asylum plans
46 minutes -
Novel consultation process on bill caused public confusion – Acting NITA boss
48 minutes -
TVET financing model failing students and employers – Eduwatch boss warns
53 minutes -
Proposed NITA Bill: Effia MP urges stronger stakeholder engagement
56 minutes -
NITA: We’ve been transparent throughout digital bills consultation process – Sam George
1 hour -
CNBC Africa partners KGL Group
2 hours -
NDC amendments have watered down Anti-LGBTQ bill – NPP MP
2 hours -
Technology Consultant warns against expansive regulation in proposed NITA Bill
2 hours