Stade de Reims attacking midfielder Yaya Fofana (22) is on an Ivory Coast squad list for the first time, for the double header against Gambia on 12 and 15 November 2026.
Head coach Hervé Renard has a new attacking option. He has called up Yaya Fofana, a 22-year-old attacking midfielder at Stade de Reims, for the first time for the double header against Gambia, according to L’Est éclair. The call-up, official, was announced on 5 November 2026, and the two matches are scheduled for 12 and 15 November.
He has made a prolific start to the season with the Champagne club and now discovers the Ivory Coast national team, after a spell with the Ivory Coast U23s.
A solid club return
Yaya Fofana has 8 goals and 2 assists in the league this season, according to L’Est éclair. He was voted player of the month in September. Foot-National, for its part, specifies that he has 8 goals and 3 assists in 11 appearances in all competitions.
Two distinct counts, therefore: the first concerns only the league, the second all the matches Reims have played since the start of the season.
Hervé Renard did not wait for this list to notice him. According to L’Est éclair, the head coach had praised his qualities during the match against Sochaux, on beIN Sports.
From the U23s without a minute to the senior national team
Called up once in 2024 with the Ivory Coast U23s, he did not play a single minute, reports L’Est éclair. This first senior call-up therefore changes the scale for the Reims player, without any guarantee of playing time against Gambia.
The head coach thus has an additional attacking profile for the double header to come.
Grenoble first, Tourcoing without him
Before joining the national team, Yaya Fofana has a Ligue 2 fixture: he starts this Friday, 6 November at Grenoble, on matchday 12, according to Stade de Reims and L’Ardennais.
His call-up will, however, deprive him of the seventh round of the Coupe de France against Tourcoing, scheduled for 14 November, indicates L’Est éclair. The Champagne club will therefore have to make do without him for this cup tie.
The Ivory Coast national team’s next fixture is set for 12 November 2026, against Gambia.