Ivory Coast have called up two newcomers to their squad for World Cup warm-up matches later this month, handing Martial Godo and Elye Wahi hopes of heading to the tournament in North America later this year.
Former French U21 international Wahi obtained his Ivorian passport last week after switching his international allegiance, while 23-year-old winger Godo is included after a strong performance in Ligue 1 for Racing Strasbourg, where he has scored 13 times in the French top flight this season.
Coach Emerse Faé named a 25-man squad for the friendly matches against South Korea on March 28 in Milton Keynes and against Scotland on March 31 at the New Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
Nicolas Pépé was left out for the second consecutive time after also missing the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, where the holders went out in the last eight.
When asked if the Villarreal winger was paying the price for his controversial pre-AFCON video, the coach denied this was the case.
"Nicolas Pépé's absence from the squad is not due to his video review, even though I would have preferred it hadn't taken place. The decision not to select him has nothing to do with the video," Fae added.
Sébastien Haller, who scored the winning goal in the 2023 Cup of Nations final, also misses out through injury, as was the case at the last Cup of Nations in Morocco.
"We are sad for Haller. Before talking about any difficulties, it's primarily his physical condition that is hindering his recovery,” said the coach.
“We hope that by the time of the World Cup, he will have regained his physical fitness and that it will allow him to express himself on the pitch.”
There has also been a cull of players from the Morocco tournament, with Vakoun Bayo, Oumar Diakité, Wilfried Zaha, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Willy Boly, Christopher Operi and Armel Junior Zohouri all dropped, while Clément Akpa, Wilfried Singo, Simon Adingra and Bénie Traoré all return.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Rizespor, Turkey), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi, Belgium), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos, Greece)
Defenders: Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Clement Akpa (AJ Auxerre, France), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Guela Doué (Racing Strasbourg, France), Jean-Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta, Italy), Evan Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Wilfred Singo (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Seko Fofana (Stade Rennais), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi, Belgium), Franck Kessie (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Christ Oulai (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest, England), Jean-Michael Seri (NK Maribor, Slovenia)
Forwards: Simon Adingra (Monaco, France), Amad Diallo (Manchester United, England), Yvan Diomande (RB Leipzig, Germany), Martial Godo (Racing Strasbourg, France), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa, England), Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim, Germany), Benie Traoré (Basle, Switzerland), Elye Wahi (Nice, France).