Strasbourg defender Ismaël Doukouré has received his first call-up to the Ivory Coast senior national team after being brought in as a replacement for an injured player.
The 23-year-old, who was born in Lille and developed through France’s youth national teams, has been added to Hervé Renard’s squad ahead of the Ivory Coast’s upcoming international fixtures.
Doukouré’s inclusion comes after one of the players initially selected for the Elephants withdrew because of injury.
The defender had previously been unable to break into the Ivory Coast squad because of competition for places, but now has an opportunity to make his senior international debut.
His career to date has been largely developed in France.
Doukouré came through the Lille academy before beginning his senior career with Valenciennes.
He moved to Strasbourg in January 2022 and has since established himself as a regular member of the Alsace club’s starting line-up.
His importance to Strasbourg increased during the 2025-2026 season when he was appointed captain, a sign of the confidence placed in the defender by the club.
Doukouré’s versatility has also been an important part of his profile.
The right-footed player can operate in central defence, at right-back or as a holding midfielder, giving Renard another option across several positions.
His first senior call-up for Ivory Coast comes after a period away from international football.
Although he previously represented France at youth level, from the Under-19s through to the Under-23s, he has not been called up since June 2021.
Doukouré had also played above his age group during his time with the French youth sides.
At club level, his start to the current Ligue 1 campaign was disrupted by both suspension and injury.
He missed Strasbourg’s opening match against Marseille because of suspension and was unavailable for the meeting with Lens because of injury.
He returned to the starting line-up against Paris FC on Saturday, making his third start of the season and wearing the Strasbourg captain’s armband.
His return ended in defeat, however, with Strasbourg losing 2-1 to Paris FC.
Despite that result, Doukouré’s return to the Strasbourg team has been followed by his elevation into the Ivory Coast senior squad.
He will now join a group preparing for three matches during the current international break, with the Elephants scheduled to play all three fixtures on home soil.
Ivory Coast will first face Ghana in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 24 September at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.
The Elephants will then meet Somalia on 29 September at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, also in the AFCON qualifying campaign.
Their third fixture will be a friendly against Cameroon on 3 October at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpé.
Doukouré is not the only new addition to Renard’s group.
Stade Brestois right-back Luck Zogbé has also been called up after Guéla Doué of Bayer Leverkusen was ruled out with a calf injury, according to Malick Traoré.
Zogbé has made one appearance for Brest this season and returns to the Ivory Coast setup after last being called up in September 2025.
The defender has four international caps and will now have another opportunity to contribute to the Elephants.
Doukouré and Zogbé are therefore joining the squad as replacements for Odilon Kossounou and Guéla Doué respectively, both of whom are unavailable because of injuries.
