The Ivorian Federation has confirmed the withdrawal of injured Inter Milan forward Victor Boniface for the double header against Gambia. Hervé Renard has urgently called up Diakité, a Sturm Graz forward, to replace him.
Another adjustment in the Ivorian squad. The Ivorian Football Federation has confirmed the withdrawal of Inter Milan forward Victor Boniface through injury, according to Chinese outlet Sohu, relayed by 直播吧. The player will therefore miss Ivory Coast’s double header against Gambia in the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
To cover for his absence, head coach Hervé Renard has urgently called up Diakité, a Sturm Graz forward. The call-up does not guarantee a starting place against Gambia. FootAfrica recently published an article on the 25-man squad, without Haller or Adingra.
A withdrawal confirmed by the federation
The news is no longer a rumour: the Federation has confirmed Boniface’s withdrawal through injury, according to Sohu and 直播吧. The outlet does not specify the nature of the injury, its severity, or the length of time the Inter Milan forward will be unavailable.
The withdrawal comes before the double clash with Gambia in the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Diakité, Renard’s emergency solution
To compensate for Boniface’s withdrawal, again according to the same source, Hervé Renard has turned to Diakité, a Sturm Graz forward, called up as an emergency. The Austrian club thus sees one of its forwards join the Ivorian camp.
Diakité’s call-up is first and foremost a numerical necessity after Boniface’s withdrawal. The staff will have to integrate this late addition into a squad already settled at around 25 names, as FootAfrica reported in recent days.
Now for the double header against Gambia
Ivory Coast will therefore face Gambia twice in the 3rd and 4th matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, without Boniface. Available information does not specify any further replacement or the exact schedule of the camp.
Hervé Renard, Ivory Coast’s head coach, will therefore have to put together his attack for these two matches with Diakité, who arrived urgently from Sturm Graz.