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Emerse Fae announced a strong 25-man Ivory Coast squad for World Cup qualifiers, explaining the notable omission of Wilfried Zaha.
Ivory Coast national team head coach Emerse Fae announced a formidable 25-man squad on Thursday for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Kenya.
The squad predominantly features players who clinched the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January.
Despite the strong lineup, the notable absence of Wilfried Zaha of Galatasaray has raised eyebrows.
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Addressing the media, Fae provided insight into the decision to leave out the Ivorian winger, shedding light on recent discussions with the player.
"We traveled to Turkey to meet Wilfried, smooth things over, and present to him the new project we have with the staff. He listened, and the meeting went very well," Fae stated, as translated from French.
"Zaha himself admitted that he is currently in a project that did not suit him and that he wanted to wait until the summer transfer window."
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Fae elaborated on the challenges Zaha faced and the reasons behind his non-selection.
"He opened up and expressed what he liked and what prevented him from performing on the pitch as he does in Europe. We were clear with him too. We told him what we expected of him, which had not been the case until now, and the reasons why he had not been selected in the group that should represent Ivory Coast at the AFCON," Fae explained.
Fae made it clear that traveling to Galatasaray to meet Zaha did not guarantee his inclusion in the squad.
"The criteria are the same for all players: you have to perform well at the club and deserve your selection. Finally, Wilfried Zaha himself admitted that he is today in a project that did not suit him and that he wanted to wait until the summer transfer window to find a new project and come and regain his place in the selection," Fae reiterated.
"It was a discussion to move things forward with Wilfried, and it could be that soon he will join us in the national team," concluded Fae.
In addition to Zaha, several other prominent players were also left out of the squad.
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Among the AFCON champions, Fae did not call up Serge Aurier, Karim Konate, Sangare Ibrahim, Christian Kouame, and Jean-Philippe Krasso.
Ivory Coast are set to face Burundi on Friday, June 7, at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo before traveling to Malawi to face hosts Kenya at Bingu International Stadium on Tuesday, June 11.
Ivory Coast
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Kone Mohamed (Dunkerque, France), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa).
Defenders: Willy Boly ( Nottingham Forest, England),Ousmane Diomande(Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka- (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou- (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France), Chirstopher Operi (Le Hrave, France), Agbadou Emmanuel, Stade de Reims) Doeu Guela ( Rennes, Frace)
Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Diamonde Mohamed (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England).
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Diakite Omar (Stade de Reims, France), Evann Guessand (OGC Nice, France),Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany),Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey).
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