Head coach Hervé Renard has called up Abdoulaye Raslan Kanté, a defensive midfielder at Al-Ettifaq, and Yaya Fofana, an attacking midfielder at Stade de Reims, for the first time for the double header against Gambia on 12 and 17 November.
The 25-man list unveiled on Thursday 5 November by Hervé Renard brings its share of new faces. Among the four first-time call-ups in the squad, one name stands out in particular: Abdoulaye Raslan Kanté, 21, a defensive midfielder at Al-Ettifaq, according to Linfodrome and AMI-Sportif. Born on 9 July 2005 in Attécoubé, the player had never been called up by the Elephants.
His call-up, like that of Reims’ Yaya Fofana, comes ahead of the double header against Gambia on 12 and 17 November in the CAN 2027 qualifiers.
From Montfermeil to Al-Ettifaq
After Montfermeil, where he came through the ranks in 2021, and ESTAC Troyes, where he arrived in 2022, Kanté played at Middlesbrough before joining Al-Ettifaq this season, according to Linfodrome and AMI-Sportif.
In the league, the defensive midfielder has made 7 appearances for 630 minutes of playing time, with one assist and five yellow cards, AMI-Sportif details. Figures that reflect already substantial playing time for a 21-year-old.
In the AFC Champions League, he has played 180 minutes across two matches, with one goal and one assist, again according to AMI-Sportif.
A quartet of new faces
The Ivory Coast list includes four first-time call-ups, AfricaFootUnited reports: Oumar Solet, Abdoul Ouattara, Abdoulaye Kanté and Yaya Kader Fofana. For the latter, 22, a native of Abidjan, it is also his first call-up for the Elephants, after eight goals and two assists in the league with Stade de Reims, according to L’Est-Éclair and Foot-National.
The Reims player was voted player of the month for September in Ligue 2 and has eight goals and three assists in eleven appearances in all competitions, the two outlets specify. He had already been called up once by the Ivory Coast U23s in 2024, without playing a single minute.
His call-up will keep him out of the seventh round of the Coupe de France on 14 November against Tourcoing, L’Est-Éclair indicates. For both Kanté and Fofana, this gathering marks a first meeting with the Elephants.
Gambia in their sights
The schedule is tightening: Ivory Coast will face Gambia on 12 November, before the return match scheduled for 17 November in the CAN 2027 qualifiers.
In total, Hervé Renard has selected 25 players for the two matches.