Udinese defender Oumar Solet earns maiden Ivory Coast call-up after international allegiance switch

Udinese defender Oumar Solet has received his first-ever call-up to the Ivory Coast national team after deciding to represent his country of ancestral origin at international level.

The 26-year-old centre-back has been included in head coach Hervé Renard’s squad for the November international break, marking a new chapter in his international career.

Solet was named in the squad unveiled on Thursday, November 5, ahead of the Elephants’ double-header against The Gambia in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The defender, who previously represented France at youth level, has opted to switch his international allegiance to Ivory Coast, making him eligible to feature for the West African nation.

His inclusion represents a significant addition to Renard’s defensive options as the Elephants continue their preparations for the upcoming qualifying assignments.

Solet is not the only fresh face in the squad, with three other players also receiving their maiden invitations to the senior national team.

Abdoul Ouattara, Martial Godo and Yaya Fofana have all been handed their first call-ups by Renard, giving the quartet an opportunity to make their international debuts during the November fixtures.

Ivory Coast will take on The Gambia on November 12 and 17 in matches corresponding to the third and fourth rounds of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.

The Elephants will be hoping to make the most of their upcoming assignments, while the four newcomers will be eager to impress and establish themselves in the national team setup.