World Cup 2026 – Ivory Coast: These Elephants who still have to convince Faé

Nicolas Pépé
He’s necessarily the first player we think of. Deprived of the African Cup of Nations in Morocco due to a spit on the host country, Nicolas Pépé missed the AFCON 2025 for exclusively extra-sporting reasons. On the field, it is clear that Villarreal’s right winger could have done good to the Elephants. However, with Amad Diallo who was one of the best Ivorian players at the moment, the 2023 African champion must perform at a very high level to claim a spot in the list for the World Cup.

Sébastien Haller
One of the greats of the coronation in 2023, Sébastien Haller missed the competition  in Morocco due to an injury. Since then, he has recovered and resumed competition with FC Utrecht in the Netherlands, but Sébastien Haller is still far from the account. The 31-year-old centre-forward is struggling with his stats, having scored only one goal in 24 games (3 assists) so far. With the competition of Evann Guessand, Vakoun Bayo or even Wilfried Zaha, Haller must clearly do better to hope to be on the list for the USA.


Simon Adingra
His absence from the list for the AFCON has saddened many Ivorian supporters, as his club situation has not really evolved since the coronation at the 2023 edition. Elected "Best young player" of this edition, Simon Adingra has since lost his place in Brighton and even had to leave the Seagulls last summer to sign with Sunderland. But there again, the flittered Adingra who gave headaches to the defenders during the African Cup of Nations at home, is still not found.

With only 1 goal scored with the Black Cats in 15 games (one assist), Simon Adingra has gone from very far to return to Emerse Faé’s list who found in Yan Diomandé his new fatal weapon on the left corridor of the Ivorian attack. Without forgetting Bazoumana Touré who was his luxury joker. The former member of the Union Saint-Gilloise needs confidence and mental strength to finally free himself and restart, but time is running out.

Seko Fofana
His first part of the season before leaving for the AFCON was not famous, and it is more complicated since his return from Morocco. Seko Fofana has completely lost the confidence of Habib Beye in Rennes and is forced to leave this winter in search of more consistent playing time. The former of Al-Nassr is announced at FC Porto (Benfica are also in the race) for a loan until the end of the season. Seko Fofana, who saw Christ Inao Oulaï snatch his place from him during the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, must this time prove that he can deserve his place in the group for the United States.


Jean Michael Seri
It was Emerse Faé’s big surprise for the AFCON 2025. Jean Michael Seri, 34 years old, was included in the list because his "experience will allow Christ Inao to express himself and rise in power. He will discover a new competition and the presence of Mika will help the team a lot to have some balance in midfield," explained Emerse Faé after the announcement of his list. But Seri plays very little in Norway with NK Maribor and he will have to brandish other arguments than those of a guide for a Christ Inao Oulaï who has already shown through his personality and character during the 2025 edition that age (19 years) is just a number and that he can manage on his own.

As a reminder, Côte d'Ivoire is in Group E alongside Ecuador (June 14), Germany (June 20) and Curaçao (June 25). But Emerse Faé and his staff will have the March break to prepare for this deadline and the list for this last break before the World Cup should give clues about the group that will go to the United States.