Ivory Coast announce pre-AFCON 2025 plan with two friendly matches

The Elephants of Ivory Coast will play two friendly matches before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Morocco.

With less than three weeks to the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, several countries, including Egypt, DR Congo and South Africa, have already named their squads, but the defending champions are taking a more patient approach.

The Elephants will open camp in Marbella, Spain, where they will begin preparations for their title defence.

Their squad announcement is scheduled for December 9, with training set to commence a day later.

As part of their build-up, Ivory Coast will play two friendly matches: first against Zambia on December 15, before facing DR Congo on December 18.

The team will then depart for Marrakech on December 20 to settle in ahead of their opening group match on December 24.

At the 2025 AFCON, Ivory Coast are drawn into Group F, where they will take on Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.