Cote d’Ivoire name squad as Les Elephants return to the global stage at FIFA World Cup 2026
Cote d’Ivoire manager Emerse Fae has announced his 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Auxerre defender Clement Akpa has since withdrawn due to injury and been replaced by Istanbul Basaksehir’s Christopher Operi.
Having led the Cote d’Ivoire to the CAF Africa Cup of Nations trophy in early 2024, when appointed mid-way through the tournament, Emerse Fae has now selected his FIFA World Cup squad as Les Elephants return to the global stage for the first time since Brazil in 2014.
The Ivorians’ fallow period is now over and they have an impressive squad to believe they can challenge in a group alongside Curacao, Ecuador and Germany; captained by former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.
Alongside Kessie in the middle of the park is former Fulham Jean Michael Seri, Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare and Porto’s Seko Fofana – and that comes on top of a strong defence.
Fae has a tough call to make as to whether to play a back three or not because his central defensive options are plentiful with Odilon Kossounou alongside Evan Ndicka, Ousmane Diomande and Emmanuel Agbadou, with no room for the likes of Christopher Operi, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Willy Boly or Cedric Kipre.
Former France youth international Alban Lafont, now at Panathinaikos, made his Cote d’Ivoire debut last year and is set to challenge Yahia Fofana between the sticks but the real strength of this Ivorian squad comes in attack.
Villarreal’s Nicolas Pepe has enjoyed a strong season in La Liga and he is joined as a wide option alongside Amad Diallo, of Manchester United, former Brighton and Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra and RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande – who is extremely well regarded as one of the rising talents in the European leagues.
Up-front, former French Olympian Elye Wahi has swapped his allegiance to Cote d’Ivoire, too, while Inter striker Ange-Yoan Bonny has also opted to represent the three-time African champions, having played for France’s U19, U20 and U21 sides.
