CAN 2027 Qualifiers, Ivory Coast: Hervé Renard unveils his first squad with several new faces

Hervé Renard has officially moved on to serious matters with Côte d’Ivoire. For his first gathering since his appointment as head coach, the French technician unveiled a list marked by several changes. Eight players have made their debut in the squad called up by the former coach of the French women’s team. Christ Tapé, Kassoum Ouattara, Yann Gboho, Amadou Koné, Eddy Doué, Malick Yalcouyé, Patrick Zabi, and Ryan Fofana have been called up for this first engagement under the French coach’s orders.

Renard has not, however, disrupted the core structure of the team. In goal, Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Koné, and Alban Lafont are present. The defense also retains several of its regulars, such as Emmanuel Agbadou, Evan Ndicka, Guéla Doué, and Ousmane Diomandé. In midfield, Franck Kessié and Ibrahim Sangaré remain important figures in the group. They will be joined notably by Christ Inao, as well as newcomers Malick Yalcouyé, Eddy Doué, and Patrick Zabi.

The offensive sector also presents a mix of experience and youth. Yan Diomandé, Bazoumana Touré, Ange Yoan Bonny, Elye Wahi, and Nicolas Pépé are included in the selection, along with Yann Gboho and Ryan Fofana. Côte d’Ivoire will face Ghana on September 24 and Somalia on Tuesday, September 29, as part of the qualifiers for CAN 2027, before a friendly match against Cameroon on October 3.

The list of Côte d’Ivoire:

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana, Alban Lafont, Mohamed Koné

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Guéla Doué, Ouattara Kassoum, Odilon Kossounou, Ousmane Diomandé, Christ Tapé

Field environments: Amadou Koné, Eddy Doué, Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré, Christ Inaho Oulai, Malick Yalcouye, Patrick Zabi Gueu

Forwards: Ange-Yoan Bonny, Bazoumana Toure, Elye Wahi, Nicolas Pépé, Ryan Fofana, Yan Diomandé, Yann Gboho