Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard is facing several fitness concerns ahead of the Elephants’ upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Gambia, with six players dealing with injuries or ongoing recovery.
Captain Franck Kessié, defenders Odilon Kossounou, Guéla Doué, Christopher Opéri and Ghislain Konan, as well as forward Nicolas Pépé, are among those whose availability remains uncertain.
Renard is scheduled to announce his squad on Thursday, 5 November 2026, at 14:00 GMT during a press conference at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
The announcement will provide a clearer picture of the players available for the two Group C matches against Gambia, which could prove important in determining the Elephants’ progress towards the 2027 AFCON finals.
Ivory Coast will host Gambia at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké on Thursday, 12 November, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 GMT. The teams will meet again at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Tuesday, 17 November, at 16:00 GMT.
Both sides have collected six points from their opening two qualifying matches, making the two encounters particularly significant in the battle for qualification.
Ivory Coast began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana before recording another 2-0 win against Somalia.
Renard will be looking to maintain that momentum, although the condition of several important players could influence his selection.
Kessié is recovering from a calf injury, with a possible return to competition expected at the beginning of November, depending on his progress.
Defensive options are also a concern. Kossounou, who plays for Atalanta, is continuing his recovery from a thigh injury and must regain his fitness before he can be considered for selection.
Doué has also been affected by a calf problem following his recent move to Bayer Leverkusen. The defender had made just one appearance for his new club before suffering the injury.
Opéri, meanwhile, remains under observation after sustaining a muscle injury, leaving his availability for the November fixtures uncertain.
Konan could be the most difficult player for Renard to replace.
The Wolverhampton left-back sustained a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee during training and could be out for as long as eight weeks, according to reports from Ivorian media.
Such a recovery period would make his involvement against Gambia unlikely and could force the coaching staff to consider alternatives at left-back.
Pépé’s situation is also being monitored as he continues his recovery after planned eye surgery. His club has not provided a specific date for his return, although he has recently featured for Villarreal in the Copa del Rey.
The forward had not played since 29 September, when Ivory Coast faced Somalia. His fitness will be assessed ahead of the squad announcement.
With several players carrying fitness concerns, Renard may have to make changes to his plans in both defence and attack. The final selection is expected to depend on medical updates and the players’ condition in the days leading up to the announcement.
The squad list on 5 November will confirm which players are available for the two matches and whether any recovering internationals can return to the group.
