Eight players have received their first senior call-ups for Ivory Coast under new coach Hervé Renard ahead of the Elephants’ upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana and Somalia.
The group includes players based across clubs in France, England, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Portugal, as Renard begins his return to the Ivory Coast dugout with a number of new faces in his first squad.
The players selected for their maiden senior call-ups are Kassoum Ouattara of Beşiktaş, Amadou Koné of Neom SC, Toulouse defender Christ Tapé, Paris FC midfielder Patrick Zabi, Coventry City forward Yann Gboho, Le Havre attacker Rayan Fofana, Estrela da Amadora midfielder Eddy Doué and Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouyé.
Their selection represents one of the most notable features of Renard’s first training camp since returning to lead the Elephants.
The French coach has opted to make several changes to the squad, bringing in players who will have the opportunity to experience senior international football with Ivory Coast for the first time.
Ouattara will join the squad from Turkish club Beşiktaş, while Koné arrives from Saudi Arabia’s Neom SC.
Tapé and Zabi will represent French clubs Toulouse and Paris FC respectively, while Gboho is based in England with Coventry City.
Fofana plays for Le Havre in France, Doué is with Estrela da Amadora in Portugal and Yalcouyé joins the squad from English Premier League side Brighton.
Alongside the newcomers, Renard has retained several established members of the Ivorian national team.
Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Koné and Alban Lafont have been selected as the three goalkeepers.
The defensive options include Emmanuel Agbadou, Evan Ndicka, Guéla Doué and Ousmane Diomandé.
Renard has also combined experience and youth in midfield.
Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré and Christ Inao are among the established midfielders included, with newcomers Yalcouyé, Eddy Doué and Zabi also part of the group.
The attacking department features another mixture of familiar names and players receiving their first opportunity with the senior side.
Yan Diomandé, Bazoumana Touré, Ange Yoan Bonny, Elye Wahi and Nicolas Pépé have all been selected.
They will be joined in the attacking group by first-time call-ups Ryan Fofana and Yann Gboho.
For the eight newcomers, the camp provides an opportunity to make an impression on Renard as he begins his second spell in charge of the Elephants.
Ghana’s visit to Bouaké will therefore provide the first competitive test of Renard’s second tenure, while both teams begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaigns with the Group C opener.
The Stade de la Paix will host the fixture on 24 September, with the Elephants hoping to begin their campaign positively under their returning French coach.
