Ivory Coast name final 21 players for 2019 AFCON U-23 tournament in Egypt
The boss of Ivory Coast national U-23 team Ibrahim Kamara has named his final 21 players to represent Ivory Coast in the upcoming 2019 U-23 AFCON championship in Egypt.
The young Elephants represent one of the favorite teams to lift the upcoming tournament but they would first of all have to come out of a difficult group that comprise of Zambia, South Africa and title holders Nigeria.
Whiles the tournament begins on the 8th and ends 22nd November, the Young Elephant would open their campaign against Nigeria a day after the tournament begins before they play South Africa and Zambia on 12th and 15th Nov respectively.
From two weeks to the start of the tournament, 53 year Kamara has named his 21 players to represent Ivory Coast, and the squad is dominated by foreign players who play their football in France, Belgium and Italy with Ira Tape, Nagoli Oupo Maxime and Aboubacar Doumbia only the three players playing in the Ivorian League.
The inclusion of Christian Kouame, Genoa’s top scorer with five goals so far this season and Vakoun Issouf Bayo who has been sensational for Celtic netting thrice in all competitions, is some sort of boost for Ivory Coast as they enter into the competition.
Full list detailed below
GOALKEEPEING
Ira Tape Eliezer (FC San Pedro, Ivory Coast), Tie Nicolas Basile (Chelsea FC, England), Nagoli Oupoh Maxime (FC SOL, Ivory Coast)
DEFENDS
Kouadio-Yves Dabila (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Zie Mohammed Ouattara (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal), Silas Gnaka (KAS Eupen, Belgium), Ismael Diallo (AC Ajaccio, France), Jonathan Cissé (Ironi Sport Hadera, Israel), Cheick Aymar Timité (Amiens SC, France)
MIDFIELD
Aboubacar Keita (OH Leuven, Belgium), Koffi Sebastien Dakoi (Correcaminos UAT, Mexico)
Franck Koffi Kouao (FC Vizela, Portugal), Idrissa Doumbia (Sporting CP, Portugal), Jean Thierry Amani (KAS Eupen, Belgium), lbrahim Sangare (Toulouse FC, France) Anderson Niangbo (Wolfsberger AC, Austria))
ATTACK
Christian Kouame (Genoa CFC, Italy), Junior Hamed Traore (US Sassuolo, Italy), Youssouf Dao (Sparta Praha, Czech Rep.), Aboubacar Doumbia (S.O.A, Ivory Coast), Vakoun Issouf Bayo (Celtic FC, Scotland).
Ivory Coast Group Stage Games- AFCON U-23
Sat. 09/11/19- Nigeria 03:00PM Ivory Coast
Tues. 12/11/19- Ivory Coast 03:00PM South Africa
Fri. 15/11/19- Ivory Coast 06:00PM Zambia
