WILFRIED ZAHA RETURNS TO CôTE D’IVOIRE AFCON SQUAD. ADINGRA SURPRISINGLY CUT FOR MOROCCO 2025
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire make a surprise call-up, bringing MLS star Wilfried Zaha back after two years, but omit Simon Adingra from the final AFCON 2025 squad.
Côte d’Ivoire coach Emerse Faé has picked his 26-man team for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Wilfried Zaha is back in a surprise move, but Simon Adingra didn't cut.
The announcement came on Tuesday. The defending champions have now confirmed which players are heading to Morocco.
Zaha, now 33, is back after almost two years away, thanks to a great season with Charlotte FC in MLS. He scored 10 goals and assisted six times.
Faé wants a mix of experience and fresh talent as the team tries to defend their 2024 title.
Faé mentioned that he'd been talking with Zaha for months. He added that Zaha’s current play and style are just what the Elephants need up front.
Jean-Michaël Seri is also back after recovering from an injury.
Several younger players are staying on the team, including Yan Diomandé, Amad Diallo, and Bazoumana Touré. Faé wants to keep the team competitive while adding some new energy.
One of the biggest surprises is the absence of Brighton winger Simon Adingra. He had a great AFCON in 2023, but he hasn't played much for Sunderland this season, only appearing in nine games.
Faé explained that there's a lot of competition for Adingra's position. He had to pick players who had been playing more consistently.
Nicolas Pépé is another notable player who won't be going, even though he's been playing regularly for Villarreal. He's been left out of recent international games. Jérémie Boga and Clément Akpa are also out, and Torino defender Wilfried Singo is missing the tournament due to an injury.
Two reserves, Parfait Guiagon and Evann Guessand, will be on standby in case anyone needs to drop out before the tournament.
Côte d’Ivoire is in Group F with Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique. After their exciting title win in 2024, Faé hopes that the mix of youth and experience will help the Elephants compete well in Morocco again.
FULL SQUAD FOR AFCON 2025
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)
EXCLUSIVE: AJAX AND SCHALKE LAUNCH BIDS FOR OUT-OF-CONTRACT RANGERS MIDFIELDER BAILEY RICE NOW
Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice is a top target for Ajax and Schalke. Get the latest on his contract status and potential summer exit.
Ajax and Schalke are chasing Rangers midfielder Bailey Rice, with both clubs working to seal a deal for the 19-year-old, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Rangers just wrapped up a training camp in Spain, gearing up for a crucial five-game stretch to go for the league title after the split earlier this month. Their run-in starts with Motherwell at home on Sunday, then a massive trip to face league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle next weekend.
After that comes the season’s final Old Firm showdown against Celtic at Parkhead on May 10, before closing out with Hibernian and Falkirk, who are the lowest-ranked teams in the split, having finished fifth and sixth.
This summer looks set for big changes at Rangers, and Rice is right at the centre of it. Romano reported on X that both Ajax and Schalke want to sign Rice as a free agent. The young Scottish midfielder is out of contract this summer. Talks over a new deal with Rangers haven’t worked out, so he’s weighing up his next move. Schalke reportedly already made him a personal offer, and Premier League side Aston Villa had also been linked with him earlier this year.
Rice has barely featured for Rangers this season after suffering a serious training injury that needed surgery; he’s only played a handful of minutes.
As for the rest of the squad, Rangers look set for another overhaul. After a busy transfer window last summer and more signings in January, things don’t seem to be slowing down. Manager Rohl has made do with what he has, but the club’s owners, the 49ers, are ready to back a ‘major recruitment drive’ this summer. Their aim? Knock Celtic off the top and keep Hearts from breaking up the Old Firm grip on Scottish football.
Nobody knows just how many players could come in yet, but it’s clear the owners are serious about shaking things up at Ibrox.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.