Less than three weeks remain until the Ivory Coast national team, under the leadership of Emerse Fae, faces Gabon and Kenya in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. As anticipation builds for these crucial matches, Malick Traoré has shed light on the upcoming squad selection.
Fresh from their reign as African champions, the Ivory Coast Elephants are poised to approach the qualifiers with confidence.
Sitting atop Group F with six points, the Elephants are gearing up for showdowns against Gabon and Kenya on June 3 and 7, respectively.
These matches mark Emerse Fae’s inaugural official fixtures as the coach of the Ivorian team.
While countries like Gabon and Cameroon have already unveiled their squads, Ivory Coast will reveal its roster in the final week of May.
According to insider information from former Ivorian journalist Malick Traoré, “Emerse Fae will announce his squad for CIV-Gabon and Kenya-CIV on Thursday, May 23.”
Confirmation from the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) is expected shortly.
Following their draw against Benin and a resounding victory against Uruguay in March, Yahia Fofana and his teammates are primed to return home.
The Ivory Coast team will face a formidable challenge against Gabon at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo before traveling to Nairobi to take on Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
The encounter with Gabon promises to be intense, with the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bolstering the Panthers’ lineup.
Additionally, Mario Lemina’s brother, Noah, who plies his trade for Wolverhampton, is set to make his debut for Gabon, adding to the stakes of the match.
As the countdown to the qualifiers continues, all eyes will be on Emerse Fae as he finalizes his squad selection, aiming to secure vital victories for the Ivory Coast Elephants on their road to the 2026 World Cup.
🚨🚨🚨 Emerse Fae donnera sa liste de joueurs pour CIV-Gabon et Kenya-CIV le jeudi 23 Mai #CDM2026
— Malick Traoré (@mlktraore) May 11, 2024
