Ivory Coast announce squad for AFCON 2025; Wilfried Zaha returns

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :December 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM

Modified at :December 10, 2025 at 12:06 AM

Ivory Coast announce squad for AFCON 2025; Wilfried Zaha returns

The Elephants will start their title defence against Mozambique.

Emerse Faé, the head coach of the Ivory Coast, has revealed his team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. There are some huge surprises on both sides of the spectrum.

Given his increasing prominence in European football, Sunderland player Simon Adingra’s exclusion from the squad has stunned supporters. Nicolas Pépé, another notable exclusion as the Villarreal winger is left off the roster, joins him on the absentee list.

Wilfried Singo, a defensive full-back, and Bénie Traoré, a forward, have also been left out, indicating a daring reorganisation of the squad as the Elephants get ready to defend their continental title. However, Wilfried Zaha’s return is a major boost amid the shocking absences.

After expressing regret to the Ivorian setup, the Charlotte FC winger was called back to the national squad. After a spell of absence, Zaha returned to the squad when Faé accepted his apology and reinstated him into the group.

Zaha’s return is viewed as a significant boost for the Elephants, who will depend on his maturity, experience, and attacking skill to win AFCON 2025.

Ivory Coast’s roster announcement has set the scenario for an exciting AFCON campaign, with key names absent and a great player returning.

Also read: Mozambique name 25-man squad for AFCON 2025

Ivory Coast announce squad for AFCON 2025

Goalkeepers: Yahina Fofana, Mohamed Kone, Alban Lafont

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou, Boly Willy, Ousmane Diomande, Guela Doue, Ghislani Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Christopher Operi, Armel Zhouri,

Midfielders: Sesko Fofana, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Christ Inao Oulat, Frank Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Jean-Michael Seri

Forwards: Vakoun Bayo, Oumar, Diakite, Amad Diallo, Yan Diomande, Sebastein Haller, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Bazoumana Toure, Wilfried Zaha

https://twitter.com/FIFCI_tweet/status/1998385476437188634?s=20

Which group are Ivory Coast in?

They are in group F.

When is their first AFCON 2025 game?

Their first game is on 24th December.

When was the last time they won the AFCON trophy?

They are the reigning champions.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.