Melody Zekey

Ivory Coast are the hosts of the 34th edition of the AFCON tournament. They had an automatic entrance as is accorded the host by CAF regulations. The two-time champions will have to fight for survival to next rounds as they are placed in Group A with favourites Nigeria. Also in same group are Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea. They last won the cup in 2015 in a thrilling encounter against Ghana which failed to yield goals even into the extra time. The match went to penalties where Ivory Coast won 9-8.

Ivory Coast is being coached by French man 70-year-old Jean-Louis Gasset. He is a former midfielder for France.

Striker Sébastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund and Brighton winger Simon Adingra are both included in the squad but not sure if both players will feature as they were by time of call-up still nursing some injuries.

Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha has not been called up by coach Jean-Louis Gasset leaving fans puzzled by the exclusion.

New face is Ismael Diallo of Hajduk Split who got his first senior call-up, while Union Saint Gilloise’s Lazare Imani has been called up for the second time.

The Elephants are being captained by Nottingham Forest right-back Serge Alain Stephane Aurier. The 31-year-old is one to look out for if he makes it into the line-ups.

IVORY COAST GROUP GAMES

Guinea Bissau January 13th 2024, 10pm (CAT;UTC +02:00)

Nigeria January 18th 2024, 7pm (CAT; UTC +02;00)

Equatorial Guinea January 23rd 2024, 7pm (CAT;UTC +02:00)

SQUAD

Ivory Coast
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Charles Folly (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa).

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly (both Nottingham Forest, England), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France).

Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest, England), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England).

Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Karim Konate (RB Salzburg, Austria), Christian Kouame (Fiorentina, Italy), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Oumar Diakite (Reims, France), Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey).

GROUP A TEAM

Guinea-Bissau Qualified for AFCON in 2017 for the first time and have never won The Cup in the four times that they have reached tournament stage.
Goalkeepers: Ouparine Djoco (Francs Borains, Belgium), Fernando Embadje (Alcanenense, Portugal), Jonas Mendes (Kalamata, Greece).

Defenders: Fali Cande (Metz, France), Marcelo Djalo (Palencia, Spain), Jefferson Encada (Pharco, Egput), Edgar Ie (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Houboulang Mendes (Almeria, Portugal), Nanu (Samsunspor, Turkey), Nito (Maritimo, Portugal), Opa Sangante (Dunkerque, France).

Midfielders: Janio Bikel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Moreto Cassama (Omonia, Cyprus), Dalcio (APOEL, Cyprus), Carlos Mane (Kayserispor, Turkey), Sori Mane (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Carlos Mendes (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mauro Rodrigues (Yverdon, Switzerland), Alfa Semedo (Al Tai, Saudi Arabia).

Forwards: Mama Balde (Lyon, France), Franculino (Midtjylland, Denmark), Zinho Gano (Zulte Waregem, Belgium), Famana Quizera (Academico Viseu, Portugal), Marciano Sanca (Almeria, Spain), Ze Turbo (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia).