Cote d’Ivoire coach Emerse Faé has named his 26-man squad for the 2025 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)

-CAFonline

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Comoros have had their chances of making an impact in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations severely impacted by FIFA’s surprise decision to delay the release of their players, said coach Stefano Cusin.

Comoros, who are the smallest nation competing, take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game in Rabat on December 21.

However, their expansive preparation plans have had to be cancelled after FIFA changed the date that clubs have to release players to the national teams competing at the finals.

Last week, world football’s governing body announced that clubs need only release players on December 15, seven days shy of the regulated 14-day period prior to a continental championship kickoff.

It has thrown plans for pre-tournament camps and friendlies into disarray for many of the 24 competing nations.

Comoros, competing at the finals for a second time and hoping to replicate the giant-killing havoc they caused in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin.

“We planned a training camp in Tunisia with a friendly game against Botswana this coming weekend,” he told Reuters

“Everything was ready, but now we have had to change everything. It affects us more than other teams because we’re going to play in the opening game.”

Comoros draw all their players from clubs across Europe and the Middle East.

“Releasing players on December 15 means we’ll only get in four or five training sessions before our first game,” Cusin added.

“We are angry about that; it was not correct to tell us just one week before. If we’d known from the beginning, then we could have made a different plan.”

The dates for the upcoming Cup of Nations from December 21-January 18 were set to avoid any conflict with the Champions League and other European club competitions.

Reuters

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Mozambique have sprung one of the most remarkable selection decisions of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after naming 42-year-old winger Dominguez in their final squad for the tournament in Morocco.

Dominguez, who celebrated his 42nd birthday last month, is now set to become the oldest outfield player in AFCON history and the second-oldest participant overall.

Only legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary was older when he appeared in the 2017 final at 44 years and 21 days.

The veteran midfielder’s international journey looked over earlier this year when coach Chiquinho Conde dropped him for missing a crucial visa deadline that forced him out of a World Cup qualifier in Egypt. But Dominguez forced his way back into contention, earning a recall for November friendlies and sealing his place after impressing in camp.

Mozambique are heading to their second consecutive AFCON after returning to the finals in 2023, ending a 13-year wait that stretched back to Angola 2010—where Dominguez was also part of the squad. Astonishingly, fellow survivor Mexer, aged 37, is also back in the squad, underlining a golden generation still resisting time.

Placed in Group F, the Mambas open their campaign against defending champions Ivory Coast in Marrakech on December 24, before meeting Gabon and Cameroon in a challenging pool.

Should Dominguez feature, AFCON history will witness a rare milestone—proof that age continues to bow to football passion in Africa’s biggest football stage.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ernan (Associacao Black Bulls), Ivane Urrubal (Ferroviario Nacala), Kimiss Zavala (Marítimo)

Defenders: Bruno Langa (Pafos), Chambuco (Associacao Black Bulls), Diogo Calila (Santa Clara), Edmilson (Al Quwa Al Jawiya), Mexer (Keciorengucu), Nanani (UD Songo), Nene (Abu Salim), Oscar (UD Songo), Reinildo (Sunderland)

Midfielders: Alfonso Amade (Dunfermline Athletic), Dominguez (UD Songo), Guima (Zira FK), Kambala (Polokwane City), Keyns Abdala (Chaves), Maza (Ferroviario Beira)

Forwards: Chamito (Associacao Black Bulls), Faizal Bangal (AC Mestre), Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon), Gildo Vilanculos (Tadamon Sour), Melque (UD Songo), Stanley Ratifo (Chemie Leipzig), Witi (Nacional)

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