Ivory Coast coach Marc Wilmot unveiled on Friday a list of 24 players called up for their two legged clash with Gabon in the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualification, with star player Yao Kouassi Gervais alias Gervinho making his comeback after a long injury layoff.
Dominated by foreign-based players, the roster also includes home-based goalkeeper Blé Zadi Hortalin, who plies his trade with Abidjan-based giants Africa Sport.
Midfielder Max Alain Gradel, who once announced his retirement from the national team, surprisingly figures on the list. The Toulouse FC man helped Ivory Coast clinch a ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea with a lone strike against Cameroon.
Ivory Coast are currently leaders of Group C with four points after two matches played, while Morocco and Gabon trail behind with two points each. Mali have one point.
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The Elephants will take on the Panthers of Gabon at the Stade de l’Amitié in Libreville on September 2 at 16.00h GMT, with the reverse fixture holding in Ivory Coast’s second largest city Bouake on September 5 at 16h30 GMT.
Full List:
Goalkeepers
GBOHOUO Sylvain (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), BLE Zadi Horthalin (Africa Sports, Ivory Coast), KACOU Axel (Tours, France)
Defenders
AURIER Serge (PSG, France), TRAORE Adama (Gozepte, Turkey), KONE Lamine (Sunderland, England), KANON Wilfried (ADO Haag, Netherlands), GNAGNON Joris (Rennes, France), DJA DJEDJE Brice (Watford, England), DELI Simon (Slavia Pra, Czech Republic), BAILLY Eric (Manchester United, England)
Midfielders
SEREY Dié (FC Bale, Switzerland), DOUKOURE Cheick (FC Metz, France), SERI Jean-Michael (Nice, France), SANOGO Sékou (YB Bern, Switzerland), FOFANA Seko (Udinese, Italy), KESSIE Franck (AC Milan, Italy)
Forwards
ASSALE Roger (YB Bern, Switzerland), BOLI Yohan (STVV, Belgium), CORNET Maxwell (Lyon, France), DOUMBIA Seydou (Sporting, Portugal), YAO Kouassi Gervais (Hebei, China), GRADEL Max Alain (Toulouse, France), KALOU Salomon (Herta Berlin, Germany).
