Hervé Renard calls up four new players for Ivory Coast
Defender Oumar Solet and midfielder Abdoulaye Kanté are among the new faces for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard has named four new players for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Gambia. Among the newcomers are 21-year-old defensive midfielder Abdoulaye Raslan Kanté of Saudi club Al-Ettifaq and 26-year-old Udinese centre-back Oumar Solet. The squad also includes debutants Abdoul Ouattara, a full-back with Ipswich Town, and midfielder Yaya Kader Fofana, who plays for Reims.
Solet, who stands 1.92m tall, brings power and speed to the defence and has established himself as a starter for Udinese in Serie A since joining in October 2024. Born in 2000, he previously played for Stade Lavallois and Olympique Lyonnais before developing his career in Austria with RB Salzburg, winning league titles and playing in the Champions League. He has chosen to represent the Elephants despite having played for France's youth teams and having a Central African father.
The Elephants have won their first two matches in Group C, defeating Ghana and Somalia 2-0. Gambia also has six points. Ivory Coast will host Gambia on November 12 in Bouaké, with the return match on November 17 in Bakau. Amad Diallo has been declared fit to play, while Hassane Kamara and Martial Godo return to the squad. Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, and Guéla Doué are absent, as are Sébastien Haller, Simon Adingra, Seko Fofana, and Wilfried Singo.
Why it mattersFootball fans in Ivory Coast will be interested in the new talent selected for the national team's upcoming matches.