**Ivory Coast Coach Michel Dussuyer Names Squad for Morocco Friendly**
Ivory Coast head coach Michel Dussuyer has announced a 21-man squad for the upcoming friendly against Morocco, marking a fresh start following a disappointing outing against Sierra Leone in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The French coach has introduced five new faces to the national setup, reflecting both necessity and a desire to refresh the team. Speaking to the Ivorian Football Federation’s official website, Dussuyer explained the rationale behind his selections.
“We welcome back Constant Djakpa at left-back. Traoré Adama, Wilfried Kanon, and Arthur Boka are sidelined with injuries. I spoke with Boka, who was injured on September 23 and is not expected back in training until next week. Tiéne Siaka remains unattached to a club. Lamine Koné is also returning to the squad after a strong finish to last season and a solid start to 2015-16,” Dussuyer said.
The coach also highlighted two young prospects, Victorien Angban and Assane Gnoukouri, whom he sees as talents ready to gain experience at the senior level. “This camp offers them a chance to prove themselves and understand the group’s demands.”
In addition, Cyriac Gohi Bi has been called up after an impressive start to his season, leading his club in scoring and helping them top the league table.
Addressing the absence of local league players, Dussuyer added, “I chose not to call up players from the domestic championship because the local team is preparing for the CHAN qualifiers, and I did not want to disrupt their camp.”
The friendly against Morocco represents a key opportunity for Ivory Coast to regroup and build confidence ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers later this year.
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