Ivory Coast U20 coach Younès Zerdouk has named a 30-man squad for a preparatory training camp ahead of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will take place in the country from April 26 to May 25, 2025.
Friendly matches against Liberia
As part of their build-up, the young Elephants will face Liberia in two friendly matches on March 20 and 23 in Yamoussoukro.
The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed the squad selection in an announcement on Thursday via its official Facebook page.
Key call-ups in the squad
Zerdouk has included 17 expatriate players in his provisional squad, among them Malick Yalcouyé, a highly rated 19-year-old midfielder from Austrian club Sturm Graz.
Yalcouyé, who is also eligible for Mali, has been at the center of a tug-of-war between the two nations, with some expecting him to be part of the senior squad under Emerse Faé.
Other notable inclusions are Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper Yvann Konan, Monaco defender Valy Konaté, and Luc Zogbé, who featured in the Champions League play-offs with Stade Brestois.
Forward Ouotro Patrick, currently playing in Belgium with Seraing, is also among the expatriates called up.
Zerdouk’s objective is to assess players in match situations before finalizing his squad for the tournament.
The coach’s idea is to see some players in real-life situations in order to select the best players likely to strengthen the team for the tournament,” FIF stated.
Local players looking to impress
Among the locally based players looking to cement their places are Christ Wawa and Souleymane Coulibaly from RC Abidjan, Oumar Konaté of SOL FC, and Isaac Ismaël Cissé from SO Armée.
These players will aim to prove their worth and secure a spot in the final squad.
Controversial qualification for AFCON
Ivory Coast originally failed to qualify for the U20 AFCON but was granted a place in the tournament as the host nation.
The decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to reinstate the team sparked criticism, including from former CAF interim president Constant Omari.
Despite the controversy, the Ivorian squad is determined to make the most of their second chance and compete at the highest level on home soil.
