Ivory Coast: Hervé Renard calls in reinforcements ahead of Gambia match

The Ivorian coach calls up an U23 player

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Ivory Coast: Hervé Renard calls in reinforcements ahead of Gambia match

17.11.26 11:00 AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Gambia

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard has called up a player from the U23 squad to strengthen his team ahead of the next 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Gambia.

Next Tuesday at Bakau’s Independence Stadium, Ivory Coast will face Gambia in the fourth round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Well in advance, Hervé Renard made a major decision. The Ivory Coast coach called up centre-back Jean Ives Valou (20, seven appearances for Getafe this season).

“The Ivorian Football Federation announces that Valou Ives Jean, a 20-year-old defender who plays for Getafe CF (Spain), has joined the senior national team,” the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced in a statement on Saturday evening.

COMMUNIQUÉ Éliminatoires CAN U23 : Valou Ives quitte les Olympiques pour les A La Fédération Ivoirienne de Football informe que Valou Ives Jean, défenseur de 20 ans évoluant à Getafe CF (Espagne), rejoint la sélection nationale A. Initialement en regroupement avec les U23 pour les éliminatoires de la CAN de la catégorie, le joueur a été appelé ce vendredi pour renforcer les Éléphants en vue de leur déplacement à Bakau, en Gambie, où ils affronteront les Scorpions lors de la 4e journée des éliminatoires de la CAN 2027.
— Équipe Nationale de Football Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮🐘 (@equipenatciv) November 14, 2026

U23 lose Jean Ives Valou ahead of Kenya match

Hervé Renard has therefore decided to weaken the U23 squad ahead of a crucial second leg against Kenya. Valou is leaving the U23 team’s training camp as the Young Elephants prepare for the crucial match against Kenya in Abidjan on Tuesday, the second leg of the second round of qualifying for the tournament.

As a reminder, Ivory Coast beat Gambia 2-1 in Thursday’s first leg in Bouaké thanks to goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Elye Wahi. If they win again, a draw in their next match against Ghana would be enough to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

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Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.