By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 10, 2025

Ivory Coast have announced their 26-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha involved for the first time in nearly two years.

Head Coach Emerse Fae has recalled Zaha with the 33-year-old impressing for Major League Soccer club Charlotte this season while on loan from Galatasaray.

Four Premier League players have been called up - Nottingham Forest's Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly, Wolves' Emmanuel Agbadou and Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.

Sunderland winger Simon Adingra, who was a breakout figure when Ivory Coast won the title in 2023, has not been selected. Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand will be on standby in case of pre-tournament withdrawls.

The competition kicks off on 21 December - when hosts Morocco take on Comoros - but Fifa has said clubs don't have to release players until 15 December, which is seven days later than the usual timing before major tournaments.

The 24 teams have been split into six groups of four and the holders have been drawn into Group F alongside five-time winners Cameroon as well as Gabon and Mozambique.

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos)

Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolves), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta), Evan Ndicka (Roma), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Basaksehir), Armel Zohouri (Iberia 1999)

Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Rennes), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Metz), Christ Inao Oulai (Trabzonspor), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (Maribor)

Forwards: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Sebastien Haller (Utrecht), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte)

Reserves: Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi)

Source BBC Sports

Posted December 10, 2025

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