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Wilfred Zaha and Eric Bailly may not face Harambee Stars in June as their international careers are rumored to be over following their exclusions from Ivory Coast’s AFCON squad.
Africa Cup of Nations hosts Ivory Coast have included a smattering of overseas stars in their 27-man squad for the January 11-February 11 competition released on Thursday.
French manager Jean-Louis Gasset has called up Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, and midfielders Ibrahim Sangare of Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Seko Fofana (Al Nassr) and Franck Kesslie (Al Ahli).
However, he has left out the Turkish-based duo of former Manchester United pair Wilfried Zaha and defender Eric Bailly.
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18:21 - 28.12.2023
FOOTBALL Former Chelsea star challenges Nigeria to finally live up to the ‘favourites’ tag at AFCON 2023
Nigeria have massively underwhelmed since winning the trophy in 2013, incluing failing to qualify for back-to-back tournaments in 2015 and 2017.
The Ivory Coast are drawn in Group A alongside Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equitorial Guinea.
They have been pooled in group F of the World Cup qualifiers alongside Kenya, Burundi, Gambia, Seychelles and Gabon.
The side will be travelling to Kenya in June to play Harambee Stars, but Zaha and Bailly may not return as their international careers may rumored to be over, with Zaha previously contemplating quitting the national team.
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12:00 - 29.12.2023
STARS ABROAD Al Duhail's struggles persist in Michael Olunga’s absence with embarrassing cup exit
Al Duhail’s woes continued in the absence of injured Michael Olunga as they were bundled out of the Qatari Stars Cup in embarrassing manner on Thursday.
Ivory Coast squad
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers/FRA), Charles Folly (Asec Mimosas), Badra Ali (Sekhukhune United/RSA)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split,/CRO), Ousmane Diomandé (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Ghislain Konan (Al-Feiha/KSA), Evans N'dicka (Roma/ITA), Odilon Kossonou (Bayer Leverkusen/GER) Wilfried Singo (Monaco/FRA)
Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Amani Lazare (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor/TUR), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr/KSA), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli/KSA), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull/ENG).
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton/ENG), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo/ESP), Jérémie Boga (Nice/FRA), Sébastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Karim Konaté (RB Salzburg/AUT), Christian Kouamé (Fiorentina/ITA), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade/SRB), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep/TUR), Oumar Diakité (Reims/FRA), Nicolas Pépé (Trabzonspor/TUR)
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09:30 - 27.12.2023
Engin Firat spent 2023 shaping Harambee Stars in his image: Is the side ready for a monumental 2024?
With 2024 set to be a pivotal year for Harambee Stars given the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2024 CHAN on home soil, is the team ready following a mixed 2023?
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