Doumbia Mamadou has named a 23-man squad for the Ivory Coast national under-23 football team ahead of two friendly matches against Morocco national under-23 football team during the upcoming international break.
The fixtures, scheduled for March 26 and 30 in Rabat, form part of Ivory Coast’s preparations for the qualifiers of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.
Coach Doumbia has largely selected a squad made up of players based in Europe, highlighting the increasing reliance on overseas talent within the youth setup as the team builds towards competitive fixtures.
Only four players in the squad are currently active in domestic football in Ivory Coast. These include Souleymane Fofana of ASEC Mimosas, Kone Ali from USC Bass-am, Diaby Ismail of KO Korhogo, and goalkeeper Youro Zigui from Stella Club Abidjan.
The remainder of the squad features players plying their trade in Europe, reflecting the depth of Ivorian talent developing abroad and the federation’s strategy of integrating these players into the national youth system.
The upcoming matches against Morocco are expected to provide a valuable opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the squad, build cohesion and refine tactical approaches ahead of the qualification campaign.
Facing Morocco’s U-23 side, known for its technical quality and competitive edge, will offer a strong test for the Olympic Elephants as they aim to fine-tune their preparations.
With the qualifiers approaching, the friendlies in Rabat represent an important stage in Ivory Coast’s build-up, giving players the chance to stake their claim for selection in the competitive fixtures to come.
As the team continues to develop, attention will be on how the largely Europe-based squad blends together and adapts to the demands of international football at youth level.
