Hervé Renard has named his Ivory Coast squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the Elephants set to face Ghana in a heavyweight Group C opener in Bouaké.
The French coach has selected a squad featuring several established European-based players as he prepares for his first competitive assignment since returning to the Ivory Coast dugout.
Real Madrid youngster Yan Diomandé, Inter Milan forward Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Villarreal winger Nicolas Pépé are all part of the selection.
Real Madrid youngster Yan Diomandé, Inter Milan forward Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Villarreal winger Nicolas Pépé are all part of the selection.
The Elephants will welcome Ghana to the Stade de la Paix on Thursday, September 24, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm GMT. The fixture will be the opening match of Group C for both sides in the race for qualification to the 2027 AFCON.
Renard’s return adds another layer to the contest. The Frenchman previously led Ivory Coast to the 2015 AFCON title, beating Ghana on penalties in the final. He has now returned to the Elephants for a second spell and will begin his competitive campaign against the Black Stars.
Ghana will therefore face a familiar coach with a proven record in African football, while Renard will be looking to make an immediate impact in his second spell.
The Elephants will remain in action during the international window after the Ghana game, with Somalia scheduled as their second AFCON qualifier on September 29. They are also due to face Cameroon in a friendly on October 3, 2026.
The Ghana-Ivory Coast meeting is expected to attract significant attention across West Africa, with both teams beginning their qualification campaigns against one another.
CAF has appointed Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal to officiate the encounter in Bouaké, with compatriots Abbes Akram Zerhouni and Mokrane Gourari as his assistants.
Meanwhile, coach Carlos Queiroz has submitted Ghana’s squad to the Ghana Football Association for review by the Management Committe and Executive Council. The Black Stars squad will be announced before the international break.
See full squad below:
