Ivory Coast coach to announce squad for Ghana, Somalia AFCON 2027 qualifiers on September 16

Ivory Coast head coach Herve Renard will announce his squad for the upcoming FIFA international window at a press conference in Abidjan on Wednesday, September 16.

Back at the helm of the Elephants, the French tactician is set to unveil his squad for the first two matchdays of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, as well as the international friendly against Cameroon.

The squad announcement is eagerly anticipated as the Frenchman prepares for his first competitive assignments since taking charge of the Elephants last August.

Ivory Coast are gearing up for their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign after being drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, Somalia and other opponents.

The Elephants will begin their qualification campaign at home against Ghana on September 24 in what promises to be a highly competitive West African encounter.

The clash will see Ivory Coast and Ghana renew their rivalry as both sides begin their journey towards securing a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

After their opening fixture against the Black Stars, Ivory Coast will travel to Somalia for their second Group C assignment.

The matchday two encounter is scheduled for September 29, giving the Elephants little time to recover and prepare for their trip to East Africa.

The French tactician will then oversee his side’s preparations for a friendly against Cameroon on October 3, which will provide another opportunity to assess his players and fine-tune his squad.

The September 16 press conference will therefore offer the first major indication of the coach’s plans and the players he believes can help Ivory Coast navigate what is expected to be a challenging AFCON qualifying campaign.

Attention will particularly focus on his selections for the Ghana encounter, with the Elephants hoping to make a strong start on home soil before turning their attention to Somalia.

The Ivory Coast–Ghana fixture is expected to attract significant interest given the history and rivalry between the two West African football powerhouses, with both nations eager to begin their qualifying campaign on a winning note.