The announcement was made on Tuesday as the defending champions confirmed their selection for Morocco.  Zaha, at 33, returns after nearly two years, following a strong season with Charlotte FC in MLS, where he scored 10 goals and assisted six times.  

Faé aims to blend experience with young talent as they seek to defend the title they won in 2024. Discussions with Zaha had been ongoing for months, and his recent form aligns with the team’s attacking needs.  

Jean-Michaël Seri also returns after a long injury layoff.  

Younger players like Yan Diomandé, Amad Diallo, and Bazoumana Touré remain in the squad, reflecting Faé’s strategy to refresh the team.  

Adingra’s notable exclusion is due to limited playing time at Sunderland this season, along with the absence of Nicolas Pépé, Jérémie Boga, and Clément Akpa.  

Torino’s Wilfried Singo is out due to injury. The squad includes two reserves, Parfait Guiagon and Evann Guessand, on standby for any withdrawals.  

Côte d’Ivoire will compete in Group F with Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique, and Faé hopes the squad’s mix will lead to a strong performance 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)