Ivory Coast name 23-man squad for crucial U20 WAFU-B home campaign

Ivory Coast Under-20 coach Oussou Israel has confirmed a 23-man squad for the WAFU Zone B tournament, a qualifying competition for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, with the young Elephants targeting a decisive start on home soil.

The Ivorians completed their preparation phase in Abidjan before travelling to Yamoussoukro on Thursday 23 July, where the regional tournament will be staged.

Drawn in Group A, the hosts will open their campaign against Benin on Sunday 26 July at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, in a match already being viewed within the camp as pivotal for their qualification hopes.

Home advantage and high expectations

Playing at home places added pressure on Israel’s side, who are expected to set the tone early in front of their own supporters.

The coach has opted for a blend of promising emerging talents and more experienced youth players, with selection decisions heavily influenced by recent training camp performances in Abidjan.

Team officials say the time spent in the Ivorian economic capital allowed the group to refine tactical plans and build cohesion before moving to Yamoussoukro, the country’s political capital, to enter what they describe as “competition mode”.

Must-win opener against Benin

Ivory Coast’s first match against Benin at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium is being treated internally as a must-win fixture.

The young Elephants are determined to “succeed in their opening match at home”, with a victory seen as crucial to controlling their destiny in Group A and easing the pressure for the remainder of the tournament.

A strong start would not only improve their chances of reaching the latter stages of the WAFU-B competition, but also take them a step closer to qualifying for the 2027 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

The regional event serves as the only route to the continental showpiece for teams in the WAFU-B zone, giving added weight to every group-stage outing.

Building towards CAN U20 2027

For the Ivorian Football Federation, this campaign is part of a longer-term strategy to prepare a competitive generation for the 2027 CAN U20 and potentially the U20 World Cup that follows.

The WAFU-B tournament will offer a high-intensity test of the squad’s capacity to handle pressure, particularly with the expectations that come from hosting.

With their squad now finalised and preparations completed, Oussou Israel and his players will look to convert home advantage into early momentum when they walk out in Yamoussoukro on Sunday.