Cote d’Ivoire call up Getafe defender Jean Ives Valou from U23 squad

Herve Renard has drafted in 20-year-old central defender Jean Ives Valou from the Cote d’Ivoire U23 squad for the senior team’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying campaign.

The Getafe defender, who has made seven appearances for the club this season, was added to the senior squad on Saturday evening, the Federation ivoirienne de football (FIF) confirmed.

Valou joins the senior team three days before its return match against Gambia at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Tuesday. The fixture is the fourth round of qualifying for CAN 2027.

His promotion comes at the expense of the U23 side, which is preparing for an important second-leg match against Kenya in Abidjan on Tuesday in the second round of the preliminary qualifying competition for the age-group CAN.

U23 coach Sebastien Bannier will therefore have to plan without Valou as his side attempts to overturn a 2-1 defeat by Kenya in the first leg in Nairobi last Wednesday. Cote d’Ivoire must win the return match to keep alive its hopes of reaching the third and final preliminary round.

Valou could make his senior international debut only a few days after receiving his first call-up to the national team.

The senior side defeated Gambia 2-1 in the first meeting in Bouake on Thursday, with Malick Yalcouye and Elye Wahi scoring for Cote d’Ivoire. A second victory in the return fixture would leave the Elephants needing only a draw against Ghana in their next match to qualify for CAN 2027.