Ivory Coast defender Odilon Kossounou will miss Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifier against Ghana after Atalanta confirmed he has suffered an injury to his left thigh.
The Italian club said medical examinations showed that Kossounou has a medium- to high-grade lesion of the biceps femoris, ruling him out of Ivory Coast’s opening qualifying fixture in Bouaké.
Kossounou has already started a rehabilitation programme, according to Atalanta, although the club has not provided a specific timeframe for his return to action.
The defender’s absence from the September-October international window had already been confirmed by the Ivorian Football Federation, which announced his withdrawal alongside that of Guéla Doué.
The latest diagnosis from Atalanta provides further information about the injury but does not establish when Kossounou will be able to return. His recovery will depend on how the injury progresses and how he responds to the rehabilitation programme.
Kossounou will therefore be unavailable when Ivory Coast begin their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign against Ghana on Thursday.
The match is scheduled for 19:00 GMT at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké and represents the opening fixture of the qualifying campaign for the Elephants.
Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard has had to make changes to his defensive options following Kossounou’s injury.
Junior Diaz, who plays for Troyes, and Luck Zogbé of Stade Brestois have been called up to help cover the absence in defence.
The changes come as Renard prepares for his first qualifying match since taking charge of Ivory Coast.
Kossounou’s injury has also affected the team’s plans for the international window, with the defender unable to contribute to preparations for the Ghana fixture.
A further setback was reported when Ismaël Doukouré, who had been expected to replace Kossounou, also suffered an injury. The development was confirmed by Renard.
With Kossounou unavailable and Doukouré also injured, Renard has turned to Diaz and Zogbé as additional defensive options.
The immediate concern for Kossounou will now be his rehabilitation rather than a return date, as Atalanta have not announced a timetable for his recovery.
The club’s medical assessment has established the extent of the injury, while the defender has already begun the process of rehabilitation.
For Ivory Coast, the focus shifts to finding a defensive solution for the meeting with Ghana.
The Elephants will face Ghana at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké at 19:00 GMT on Thursday, with Kossounou unable to take part because of the thigh injury.
His absence leaves Renard with fewer options in defence for the opening match of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, while Diaz and Zogbé have been brought into the squad to provide alternatives.
Kossounou’s recovery will now be monitored as he works through his rehabilitation programme at Atalanta. With no return date yet given, the timing of his comeback remains dependent on his progress.
For the moment, however, the defender’s participation in the Ghana match is ruled out, leaving Ivory Coast to begin their qualifying campaign without one of their defensive options.
