Ivory Coast suffer fourth injury blow as Seko Fofana withdraws from squad

Ivory Coast’s preparations for their final 2026 World Cup qualifiers have been disrupted by another injury setback, with midfielder Seko Fofana ruled out of the upcoming matches due to a muscle problem.

The reigning African champions are enduring a wave of withdrawals ahead of their fixtures against the Seychelles and Kenya.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed on Monday that Fofana, who plays for Stade Rennais, has been sidelined with an issue affecting his posterior chain, forcing him to withdraw from the national team camp that began this week.

His absence adds to an already worrying list of injuries within the Elephants’ ranks.

Odilon Kossounou of Atalanta was replaced earlier by Nottingham Forest’s Willy Boly, while Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray) and Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Metz) were also forced to pull out, making way for Armel Zohouri (Saburtalo Tbilisi) and newcomer Junior Diaz (Brest).

In response to Fofana’s withdrawal, coach Emerse Faé has handed a first senior call-up to 24-year-old Kader Keita.

The Rapid Bucharest midfielder, who joined the Romanian club permanently this summer after an impressive loan spell from Cluj, has featured in all 12 matches so far this season, demonstrating consistency and stamina that caught the national team’s attention.

Kader Keita joins the squad to replace Seko Fofana, who is unavailable due to injury, the FIF said in an official statement, confirming the player’s maiden inclusion.

The Ivorians remain focused on their objective: securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Ivory Coast currently lead Group F with a one-point advantage over Gabon, knowing that two victories from their remaining fixtures will seal their return to the global stage for the first time since 2014.

🚨 COMMUNIQUÉ – Équipe Nationale 🇨🇮

Seko Fofana forfait ❌
Le milieu de terrain est indisponible pour raison médicale (douleur à la chaîne postérieure).

➡️ Il est remplacé par Kader Keita du Rapid Bucarest pour cette fenêtre FIFA d’octobre 2025. pic.twitter.com/6QQQ98sPE0

— FIF 🇨🇮🐘 (@FIFCI_tweet) October 6, 2025

Their campaign so far has been largely positive.

The Elephants began their qualifying journey in emphatic fashion with a record-breaking 9-0 victory over the Seychelles in November 2023, before being held to a goalless draw by Kenya in June this year.

Despite the string of injuries, Faé’s squad remains determined and well-equipped to finish the job.

The team will face the Seychelles on Friday in Mauritius before hosting Kenya in Abidjan on 14 October, matches that could confirm the Elephants’ long-awaited World Cup comeback.

With key figures missing, the responsibility now shifts to emerging talents like Keita to step up and help carry Ivory Coast over the final hurdle in their qualification quest.