Martial Godo omission from Ivory Coast squad sparks backlash

Martial Godo’s omission from Ivory Coast’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup has sparked widespread debate, with the Strasbourg forward reportedly left deeply disappointed by the decision of head coach Emerse Faé.

The squad announcement, made on Friday, saw the 23-year-old left winger left out despite a strong season with RC Strasbourg, where he registered 16 goals and six assists across 44 appearances.

His exclusion came as a surprise to many observers and supporters, who had expected him to be included in the final selection for the tournament.

The decision has led to significant reaction from fans, with many questioning the criteria used for the final squad list. However, it is the player himself who appears to have been most affected by the omission.

According to a source close to the player speaking to Lifemag-ci.com, Godo took the decision personally after believing his performances had earned him a place at the tournament.

“He took it as an affront, an injustice. Given the season he’d had, he envisioned himself participating in the World Cup. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case.”

Following the announcement, the forward reportedly removed references to the Ivory Coast national team from his social media accounts, including the “Ivorian international” label from his Instagram biography, as well as deleting related posts.

These actions fuelled speculation over whether the player might reconsider his international future, including the possibility of representing England, his country of birth.

However, those close to him have moved to calm the situation, suggesting the reaction was driven by frustration rather than a long-term decision.

“I think it was anger that drove him to do such things. He’ll get over it. I don’t think he’ll decide to abandon Ivory Coast to go back to England. He’s young; he’ll have time to play in several other major tournaments with Ivory Coast.”

Despite the controversy, there remains hope among supporters that Godo could still be involved if changes are made to the squad due to injury or withdrawals, though no such decisions have yet been confirmed by Faé.

Attention now turns to the coach’s final preparations for the tournament and whether any adjustments will be made before the World Cup begins.