Emmanuel Eboué Surprises with Omission from Côte d’Ivoire’s 2014 World Cup Squad
Abidjan — Sabri Lamouchi, the head coach of Côte d’Ivoire, unveiled his 28-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, with a few notable surprises. One of the most striking omissions was that of Galatasaray defender Emmanuel Eboué, who had a full season with the Turkish club. The exclusion of Eboué was a surprise to many, especially considering his wealth of experience at both club and international levels. Another notable absence is left-back Siaka Tiéné, who was not included in the squad despite his previous appearances for the national team.
However, aside from these two absentees, the squad remains largely unchanged from expectations. Key players such as Didier Drogba, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Touré, and Romaric are all included, providing the team with a solid core of talent. Even Kolo Touré, who has had limited playing time at Liverpool, made the cut, further reinforcing the importance of experience and leadership within the squad.
Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup preparation will begin on May 24, when the team convenes in the United States for a series of friendly matches. The Elephants will face Bosnia on May 30 and El Salvador on June 4, with these fixtures serving as important warm-ups before the tournament kicks off in Brazil.
In the World Cup, Côte d’Ivoire has been drawn into Group C, where they will face tough competition from Colombia, Greece, and Japan. With a blend of seasoned internationals and promising talent, Lamouchi’s squad is expected to challenge for a spot in the knockout stages.
The final squad, as announced by Lamouchi, is as follows:
Goalkeepers (4):
Boubacar Barry (Lokeren/BEL)
Sayouba Mandé (Stabaek/NOR)
Sylvain Gbohouo (Séwé San Pedro/CIV)
Ali Badra Sangaré (ASEC Mimosas/CIV)
Defenders (10):
Kolo Touré (Liverpool/ENG)
Arthur Boka (Stuttgart/GER)
Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Toulouse/FRA)
Serge Aurier (Toulouse/FRA)
Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba (Caykur Rizespor/TUR)
Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor/TUR)
Constant Djakpa (Frankfurt/GER)
Brice Dja Djédjé (Marseille/FRA)
Benjamin Angoua Brou (Valenciennes/FRA)
Bamba Souleymane (Trabzonspor/TUR)
Midfielders (6):
Ismaël Diomandé (AS Saint-Etienne/FRA)
Max Gradel (AS Saint-Etienne/FRA)
Yaya Touré (Manchester City/ENG)
Ismaël Cheick Tioté (Newcastle/ENG)
Geoffroy Serey Dié (FC Basel/SUI)
Didier Ya Konan (Hannover 96/GER)
Forwards (8):
Didier Drogba (Galatasaray/TUR)
Gervinho (AS Roma/ITA)
Salomon Kalou (Lille/FRA)
Wilfried Bony (Swansea/ENG)
Giovanni Sio (FC Basel/SUI)
Mathis Bolly (Düsseldorf/GER)
Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow/RUS)
Lacina Traoré (Everton/ENG)
The inclusion of experienced players like Drogba and Touré, combined with the exciting attacking options provided by Gervinho and Bony, gives Côte d’Ivoire a well-rounded squad that can compete with the best in the world. Lamouchi will be hoping that the mix of youth and experience can propel the Elephants to success in Brazil, as they aim to surpass their group-stage exit in the 2010 World Cup.
Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup campaign will begin on June 14, when they face Japan in their opening match. With their talented squad and high expectations, the Elephants are poised to make a significant impact in Brazil.
