2023 African champion, the Ivory Coast team did not manage to achieve a double during the CAN 2025 in Morocco, however achieving a good run until the quarter-finals, for a 3-2 defeat against Egypt, on January 10 in Agadir. Two offensive cracks, Amad Diallo and Yan Diomandé, revealed themselves during this tournament and all hopes are high for the Elephants at the 2026 World Cup, with Ecuador, Germany and Curaçao as opponents in the group stage.
Emerse Faé can count on a host of executives with goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, defenders Evan Ndicka, Wilfried Singo, Odilon Kossounou, Guéla Doué and Ghislain Konan, midfielders Franck Kessié, Jean Michaël Seri, Ibrahim Sangaré, Seko Fofana and Christ Inao Oulaï as well as offensive players like Nicolas Pépé, Evann Guessand and newcomer Elye Wow.
Sébastien Haller awaits Ivory Coast
In these conditions, Sébastien Haller has little chance of experiencing the World Cup in North America. Hero of the 2023 African Cup of Nations, giving victory to the Ivorians in the semi-finals against DR Congo then in the final against Nigeria, the striker trained at AJ Auxerre withdrew from CAN 2025 due to a muscle injury. Since then, the 31-year-old Utrecht player has struggled to start his season due to rib pain. He has only scored one goal this season.
Haller still hopes to return to fitness in order to be part of Ivory Coast’s 26, even if his relationship with Faé has not been very good. The center forward who passed through Dortmund did not appreciate his few absences in 2025 when he was a captain of the team. “Yes, it’s true that Seb was a little bitter seeing as some players weren’t performing but were selected and not him. This is what competitors are all about. You understand »explains one of his relatives to
Sport News Africa.
