Opposition watch: Ivory Coast name Chelsea, Man Utd, Nottingham Forest stars in provisional AFCON squad

Super Eagles' group opponents at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast have sent a 53-man provisional squad to the Confederation of African Football,  with several players on the books of English Premier League clubs in contention to play in the tournament. 

It is from among these players that a final list of 23 to 27 players will be released for the 2023 African Cup of Nations which will be held from January 13 to February 11, 2024 in the Ivorian cities of Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro.

Chelsea-owned striker Datro Fofana, who is spending the season on loan at Union Berlin and is being looked after by a Nigerian agent Atta Aneke, is joined on the roster by Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, Nottingham Forest trio Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare and Serge Aurier.

Completing the English-based players are: Jean Michael Seri (Hull City), Hamed Traore (Bournemouth), Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove), Maxwel Cornet (West Ham United) and Benie Adama Traore (Sheffield United).

Former Manchester United center back Eric Bailly, Arsenal alum Nicolas Pepe, Chelsea academy product Jeremie Boga and ex-Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha have also been picked in the provisional squad. 

The Super Eagles will do battle with the Elephants at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan on January 18.

Ivory Coast's 53-man provisional squad 

1 Yahia Fofana (Angers SCO)
2 Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Portugal)
3 N'clomande ghislain Konan (Al Fayha)
4 Jean michael Seri (Hull City)
5 Wilfried Singo (AS Monaco)
6 Seko Fofana (Al Nassr)
7 Kouakou Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen)
8 Franck yannick Kessie (Al Ahly)
9 Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha (Galatasaray)
10 Hamed Traore (Bournemouth)
11 Jean Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade)
12 Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest)
13 Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo)
14 Oumar Diakite (Stade de Reims)
15 Max alain Gradel (Gaziantep Sport)
16 Ayayi charles Folly (Asec Mimosa) 
17 Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest)
18 Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest)
19 Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion)
20 Kouakou Christian Kouame (Fiorentina)
21 Obite Evan Ndicka (AS Roma)
22 Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund)
23 Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United FC)
24 Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor)
25 Amad Diallo (Manchester United)
26 Tape Ira (Hadiya Hossana, Ethopia)
27 Jean-pphilippe Gbamin (USL Dunkerque)
28 Gnaly Albert Maxwel Cornet (West Ham United) 
29 Fofana Datro david (Chelsea, on loan to Union Berlin)
30 Loubadhe Abakar Sylla (Strasbourg)
31 Karim Konate (Red Bull Salzburg)
32 Jean Evrard Kouassi (Zhejiang)
33 Lazare Amani (URSG)
34 Idrissa Doumbia (Al Ahli)
35 Simon Deli (Istanbulspor)
36 Emmanuel Agbadou (Stade de Reims)
37 Pacome Peodoh zouzoua (Young Africans)
38 Eric Bertrand Bailly (Besiktas)
39 Hassane Kamara (Udinese)
40 Koffi Franck Kouao (Lyon)
41 Armel junior Zohouri (FC Sherif Tiraspol)
42 N'guessan Jean Frederic Kouadio (Metz)
43 Ismael j.chester Diallo (Hajduk Split)
44 Evann ludovic Vidjannagni Guessand (OGC Nice)
45 Jeremie Boga (OGC Nice)
46 Benie Adama Traore (Sheffield United)
47 Mohamed Kone (Havre FC)
48 Anthony Urbain Tra bi tra (Asec Mimosas)
49 Issa Fofana (Al Hilal Omduram)
50 Sinaly Diomande (Lyon)
51 Bamo Meite (Olympique de Marseille)
52 Paul Akouokou (Lyon)
53 Christoper Operi (Le Havre)

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: fif-ci.com

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