The Ivory Coast national team squad has been revealed with a couple of notable surprises from the reigning champions ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Morocco.
Wilfried Zaha could make his first appearance in over two years for the Elephants after receiving a surprise call.
The former Crystal Palace star is continuing to rejuvenate his club career in Major League Soccer with Charlotte FC, contributing 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances during the recently completed 2025 campaign while on loan from Galatasaray.
Notably, Villarreal winger Nicolas Pepe has not been included. Dropped for most of the qualifying campaign for the 2025 AFCON, the former Arsenal player’s good form in Spain saw him feature regularly during 2026 World Cup qualifying.
After not making the team for recent friendlies against Oman and Saudi Arabia, his exclusion is now confirmed along with one of the heroes of the 2023 AFCON-winning team, Simon Adingra.
Star players like midfielders Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana are included along with central defenders Evan Ndicka, Emmanuel Agbadou and Ousmane Diomande.
Highly hyped teenage wingers Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim) and Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig) will travel to Morocco after impressive starts to the 2025-26 season with their Bundesliga clubs.
Jean-Philippe Krasso, Sebastien Haller and Vakoun Issouf Bayo will be the options at the striker position while Manchester United winger Amad Diallo is set to have a big role at the competition.
The Ivorian attack looked underwhelming and coach Fae has shaken things up significantly with an injection of youth and explosiveness.
The reigning African champions are in Group F alongside Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique. The Elephants begin play on December 24 against Mozambique.
