Cote d’Ivoire coach Emerse Faé has named his 26-man squad for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with Wilfried Zaha making a surprise return and Simon Adingra missing out of the squad.
The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon as the defending champions confirmed the squad they will take to Morocco.
The returning Zaha, now 33, is included for the first time in nearly two years after impressing with Charlotte FC in MLS, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists this season.
His recall comes as Faé looks to balance experience with emerging talent in a squad tasked with defending the title they won on home soil in 2024.
Faé said discussions with Zaha had been ongoing “for several months” and that the forward’s recent club form and profile fit what the Elephants needed in attack.
Jean-Michaël Seri, also recalled, returns after a long injury lay-off.
Several younger players have also been retained, including Yan Diomandé, Amad Diallo and Bazoumana Touré, reflecting Faé’s intention to refresh the squad while keeping its competitive core intact.
However, the absence of Brighton winger Simon Adingra is one of the headline omissions. Adingra, who was a breakout figure at the 2023 AFCON, has struggled for playing time at Sunderland this season, featuring only nine times.
Faé said competition for his position was “very strong” and that he had to prioritise players with greater continuity in club football.
Nicolas Pépé, another high-profile absentee, also misses out despite regular appearances for Villarreal. His omission continues a trend from recent international windows in which the winger has been overlooked. Jérémie Boga and Clément Akpa are also excluded, while Torino defender Wilfried Singo misses the tournament through injury.
The 26-man squad will be supported by two reserves, Parfait Guiagon and Evann Guessand, who will be on standby in case of pre-tournament withdrawals.
Côte d’Ivoire enter the tournament in Group F alongside Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique. After their dramatic title win in 2024, Faé hopes the blend of youth and senior players will allow the Elephants to compete strongly again in Morocco.
SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Mohamed Koné (Charleroi SC, Belgium), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos, Greece)
DEFENDERS: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Boly Willy (Nottingham Forest, England), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP, Portugal)
Guela Doué (RC Strasbourg, France), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta BC, Italy), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma, Italy), Christopher Operi (Istanbul Başakşehir, Turkey), Armel Zohouri (FC Iberia 1999, Georgia)
MIDFIELDERS: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais, France), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (FC Metz, France), Christ Inao Oulaï (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest, England), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor FC, Slovenia)
FORWARDS: Vakoun Bayo (Udinese Calcio, Italy), Oumar Diakité (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Amad Diallo (Manchester United, England), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig, Germany), Sébastien Haller (FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Paris FC, France), Bazoumana Touré (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany), Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC, United States)
STANDBY: Guessand Evann (Aston Villa, England), Guiagon Parfait (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium)
