Ivory Coast: Odilon Kossounou suffers a hamstring injury

Odilon Kossounou will not take part in Ivory Coast’s match against Ghana on Thursday, September 24, in Bouaké. Atalanta have specified the nature of the Ivorian defender’s injury: a medium- to high-grade lesion of the biceps femoris in his left thigh.

The Bergamo club said that Kossounou underwent medical examinations after suffering the injury. The defender has already begun a rehabilitation programme, although no precise period of unavailability has been communicated.

His absence had already been confirmed for the September–October international window. The Ivorian Football Federation had announced Kossounou’s withdrawal at the same time as Guéla Doué’s.

No return date announced

The diagnosis released by Atalanta now provides more details about the injury, but the club has not set a timetable for the defender’s return. His recovery will therefore depend on how the injury develops and on the rehabilitation process that has begun.

To compensate for his absence in defence, Hervé Renard has called up Junior Diaz, a Troyes defender, and Luck Zogbé, a Stade Brestois player.

Kossounou will notably miss the Elephants’ opening match in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Ghana on Thursday at 7 p.m. GMT at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké.

Nouya M'toama

Editorfr, en

Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

Related teams and leagues

Atalanta

Serie A Italy