Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae explains Sébastien Haller’s absence from squad for South Korea, Scotland friendlies

Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae has explained his decision to exclude FC Utrecht forward Sébastien Haller from his squad for the upcoming international friendlies against South Korea and Scotland.

Haller was once again left out of the Elephants squad, as the three time AFCON champions gears up for the preparatory games this month.

The Utrecht forward, who missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations due to a muscle injury, is yet to fully recover, casting fresh doubt over his short-term future with the national team.

According to Fae, the absence of the attacker from his team for the upcoming games purely bounds down to his physical condition.

For Fae, the situation is more concerning than initially thought, with the striker still struggling to regain peak fitness months after his initial setback.

Despite the disappointment surrounding his continued absence, there remains a sense of patience and support within the national team setup.

“We feel sorry for Haller. Before talking about difficulties, it is mainly physically that he is struggling to recover,” the coach admitted. “What saddens us is that he is unable to perform at his best.”

Haller, once a central figure in Ivory Coast’s attacking line, has endured a frustrating period marked by injuries and inconsistent availability. His absence continues to be felt, especially as the Elephants look to rebuild momentum and cohesion ahead of future competitive fixtures.

There is, however, cautious optimism within the camp. The coaching staff remains hopeful that the 29-year-old can rediscover full fitness in time for the next major international assignments, particularly with an eye on the upcoming global stage.

“We hope that by the time of the World Cup, he will have regained his physical fitness and that this will allow him to express himself on the pitch,” the coach added.

For now, Haller’s focus remains firmly on recovery, as both player and country wait for the return of a striker capable of leading the line with power, precision, and presence when fully fit.

Ivory Coast will take South Korea on March 28 before their game against Scotland on March 31.