Yan Diomandé joined up in Abidjan on Monday 9 November along with four other Elephants, while newcomers Yaya Fofana and Oumar Solet prepare for the double header against Gambia.
The Elephants’ camp officially opened on Sunday 8 November at the Sofitel Ivoire hotel in Abidjan. Six players reported on the first day, before a second contingent of five arrived on Monday 9 November, according to Dailysports and Lekpakpatosportif. Among them is Yan Diomandé.
The camp comes ahead of a double header against Gambia, on 12 November in Abidjan and then 17 November in Banjul. The two national teams occupy the top two places in Group C with six points apiece after two wins each, according to AMI Sportif. The stakes are clear for Ivory Coast: to seal qualification for AFCON 2027, to be staged in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June, as the national team’s stated objective makes clear.
A strengthened second group
Alongside Yan Diomandé, Abdoulaye Kanté, Bazoumana Touré, Ibrahim Sangaré and Ousmane Diomandé arrived in Abidjan on Monday. This second group completes the six players who arrived the day before: Patrick Zabi, Yaya Kader Fofana, Mohamed Koné, Hassane Kamara, Martial Godo and Oumar Solet, according to AMI Sportif and Dailysports.
For Patrick Zabi, this is his second camp with Hervé Renard’s senior national team, the Elephants’ head coach, according to Lekpakpatosportif.
Fofana and Solet, first call-ups
Yaya Kader Fofana and Oumar Solet are receiving their first call-up to the Elephants, reports Footafrica.net. The Stade de Reims midfielder arrives with a particular tag: his club bills him as the fourth-highest scorer in Europe, with 8 goals and 2 assists as of 5 November, after his brace at Grenoble, according to X-TremLimit.
Oumar Solet, the Udinese defender, is the other newcomer. A first cap is possible for both men, though not guaranteed. The head coach will have to do without Sébastien Haller and Simon Adingra, who are absent from the 25-man squad, according to Footafrica.net.
A double challenge against Gambia
Ivory Coast therefore take on Gambia in a top-of-the-table Group C showdown, with both teams on six points. The first match will be played in Abidjan on 12 November, before the trip to Banjul on 17 November, according to Dailysports.
For the Elephants, the aim is to win both games and book their ticket to AFCON 2027. Gambia also boast two wins from two matches.