2025 AFCON: Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae unveils final squad for tournament

Head coach of Ivory Coast, Emerse Faé, has unveiled his final squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

The 35^th edition of the continental showpiece has been scheduled to take place in Morocco between December 2025 and January 2026, with 24 countries set to battle it out for the covetous trophy.

As the Elephant embark on their tittle defense, Fae, who led Ivory Coast AFCON 2023 glory, has summoned 26-man squad for the impending tournament.

Surprisingly, Sunderland marksman Simon Adingra has been left out of the squad, having struggled for game time in the current campaign.

He is joined on the sidelines by Nicolas Pépé, another high-profile name missing from Faé’s final selection. Despite his experience and pedigree, the Villarreal winger did not make the final cut.

Below is the squad:

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Mohamed Koné (Charleroi SC, Belgium), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos, Greece)

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Boly Willy (Nottingham Forest, England), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP, Portugal), Guela Doué (RC Strasbourg, France), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta BC, Italy), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma, Italy), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Başakşehir, Turkey), Armel Zohouri (FC Iberia 1999, Georgia)

Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais, France), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (FC Metz, France), Christ Inao Oulaï (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest, England), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor, Slovenia)

Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese Calcio, Italy), Oumar Diakité (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Amad Diallo (Manchester United, England), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, Germany), Sébastien Haller (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC, France), Bazoumana Touré (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC, USA)

Standby: Guessand Evann (Aston Villa, England), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium)