Ivory Coast is gearing up to kick off its Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 qualifying campaign as the reigning African champions. The Elephants will start their journey in front of their home supporters, facing Zambia on September 6, followed by a trip to Yaoundé for a clash with Chad on September 10. The Ivorian Football Federation has officially announced the team’s preparation schedule for the first two rounds of Group G action, setting the stage for a critical opening phase.
Côte d’Ivoire finds itself in Group G alongside Zambia, Chad, and Kenya.
the group is widely viewed as manageable for the Elephants, who are tasked with defending their prestigious title.
Ahead of the opening match, the Ivorian national team, under the leadership of coach Emerse Faé, is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations.
The official program begins with a press conference on Monday, August 26.
During this briefing, Faé will unveil the roster of players called up for the crucial encounters.
The squad will convene in Abidjan on September 2 to begin training ahead of their qualifying matches.
On September 3, a training session will be held at the Lycée Technique in Abidjan-Cocody, which will be open to the press, giving the media and fans a first glimpse of the team’s preparations.
Following the session in Abidjan, the squad will travel to Bouaké on September 4, where they will face Zambia at the Stade de la Paix on September 6 at 7 p.m. GMT.
The pre-match press conference will take place the day before, on September 5, at the same venue.
This marks the first of two fixtures for Ivory Coast as they seek to begin their qualification campaign with a victory on home soil.
Once the Zambia match is completed, the team will quickly turn its attention to the next challenge.
On September 8, the Elephants will head to Yaoundé, Cameroon, where they will face Chad for their second match of the qualifiers.
Due to the unavailability of an approved stadium in Chad, the match will be held at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé on September 10, also at 7 p.m. GMT.
The pressure is on Ivory Coast to make a strong start, especially as defending champions.
While the team is viewed as superior to their upcoming opponents on paper, they will need to approach these matches with caution.
Zambia, a formidable footballing nation, and Chad, eager to prove themselves, both pose potential challenges that could test the Elephants’ mettle.
Faé’s squad is expected to feature a mix of experienced players and new talents as he looks to strike the right balance for a successful campaign.
With the backing of their passionate home crowd and a clear path laid out for their preparations, Côte d’Ivoire will aim to solidify their status as Africa’s dominant footballing force with two early victories.
The Elephants’ AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign is set to be a journey of pride and determination as they work to reclaim continental glory once more.
