Overview:
Rennes midfield maestro Seko Fofana ended the qualifiers as the team’s top scorer, with three goals to his name, while Simon Adingra, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand, Sebastien Haller, Franck Kessie, Karim Konate, Ibrahim Sangare and Hamed Traore all netted twice.
For the first time since Brazil 2014, Ivory Coast’s Elephants return to the global piece in United States, Canada and Mexico.
This will be their fourth World Cup appearance having played at the editions in 2006, 2010 and 2014 but missed out on the last two.
This time round, they are pooled alongside former winners Germany, South Americans Ecuador and less fancied Curacao who are making their debut.
Head coach- Emerse Fae
How Fae assumed the coach job is miraculous as he replaced his boss Jean-Louis Gasset half-way the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and went on to win it.
He was initially appointed on an interim basis but masterminding a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the trophy decider just a few weeks after having been promoted from his role as a member of Gasset’s coaching staff, he got the job permanently.
Since then, the former international midfielder has continued to impress in the dugout.
How they qualified
They were flawless in the qualifying campaign finishing above Gabon in a tough group.
On their way, they didn’t concede a goal and ended the campaign unbeaten.
Rennes midfield maestro Seko Fofana ended the qualifiers as the team’s top scorer, with three goals to his name, while Simon Adingra, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand, Sebastien Haller, Franck Kessie, Karim Konate, Ibrahim Sangare and Hamed Traore all netted twice.
History at World Cup
- Best World Cup: Group stage (2006, 2010, 2014)
- Last World Cup: Brazil 2014 (group stage)
- First World Cup: Germany 2006 (group stage)
- World Cup appearances: Four (2006, 2010, 2014, 2026)
- Overall World Cup record: P9 W3 D1 L5 F13 A14
Ivory Coast’s top scorers at the World Cup
The Elephants have managed 13 goals at the global stage with four players on TWO goals each led by talisman Didier Drogba who scored at the 2006 & 2010 edition.
Others are Aruna Dindane (with two goals in 2006) and Bony and Gervinho (with a pair of efforts apiece in 2014).
The country’s leading marksman, Drogba etched his name into the history books by netting his nation’s maiden World Cup strike in Les Éléphants’ tournament debut against Argentina in 2006.
Ivory Coast Group fixtures at the 2026 World Cup
- June 15: vs Ecuador 2am – Philadelphia stadium
- June 20: vs Germany 11pm – Toronto stadium
- June 25: vs Curacao 11pm – Philadelphia stadium
Ivory Coast’s squad at the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers
Yahia Fofana, Mohamed Kone, Alban Lafont
Defenders
Emmanuel Agbadou, Christopher Operi, Ousmane Diomande, Guela Doue, Ghislain Konan, Odilon Kossounou, Wilfried Singo, Evan Ndicka
Midfielders
Seko Fofana, Parfait Guiagon, Christ Inao Oulai, Franck Kessie, Ibrahim Sangare, Jean Michael Seri
Forwards
Simon Adingra, Ange-Yoan Bonny, Amad Diallo, Oumar Diakite, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand, Nicolas Pepe, Bazoumana Toure, Elye Wahi
