2027 AFCON qualifiers: Ivory Coast name strong squad for Ghana, Somalia qualifier
by Ayeh Offei-Akoto · MyNewsGh.comIvory Coast have announced a strong squad for their opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana and Somalia.
The squad includes several top players from Europe’s major leagues as new head coach Hervé Renard begins his competitive campaign with the Elephants.
Real Madrid youngster Yan Diomandé, Manchester United defender Leny Yoro, Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie, Brighton’s Malick Yalcouyé and Newcastle United forward Bazoumana Touré are among the players selected.
Ivory Coast will begin their Group C campaign against Ghana on Thursday, September 24, at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké. The match will kick off at 19:00 GMT.
The Elephants will then face Somalia on September 29. CAF has confirmed both matches as the opening two games of the qualifying campaign.
The squad gives Renard his first major test since returning to the Ivory Coast dugout as the Elephants look to make a strong start to their qualification campaign.
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi SC), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Clement Akpa (AJ Auxerre), Christ Tape (Toulouse), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Guela Doue (Bayer Leverkusen), Ousmane Diomande (Nottingham Forest), Ismael Doukoure (RC Strasbourg), Abdoul Ouattara (Ipswich Town), Oumar Solet (Udinese), Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Franck Kessie (Atalanta), Malick Yalcouyé (Brighton), Yann Gboho (Coventry City), Amadou Kone (Neom SC), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Christ Inao (Fiorentina), Michel Adopo (Cagliari), Parfait Guiagon (Al-Taawoun)
Forwards: Yan Diomandé (Real Madrid), Bazoumana Touré (Newcastle United), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), Elye Wahi (OGC Nice), Karim Konate (RB Leipzig), Oumar Diakite (Sturm Graz), Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal), Evan Guessand (Crystal Palace).
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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