Nicolas Pepe leaves Cote d’Ivoire squad for family reasons

Nicolas Pepe has been granted permission to leave the Cote d’Ivoire squad after the Elephants’ match against Somalia, the Federation Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) has announced.

The forward departed with the approval of national team manager Herve Renard and the coaching staff to join his wife, who was on the verge of giving birth.

The FIF said the decision had been taken for personal and family reasons. The federation sent its congratulations and best wishes to Pepe and his wife ahead of the birth.