Ivory Coast kicks off their CAF World Cup qualification campaign this week against Seychelles at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Friday evening. Ranked ninth among African teams by FIFA, Ivory Coast is the favorites in this group and aims to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup main draw.
The Elephants, having narrowly missed qualification in the last World Cup edition, have improved, reaching the last 16 of the CAF African Nations Championship and finishing second in their AFCON qualifiers group. Unbeaten in their last three matches, including recent draws against South Africa and Morocco, Ivory Coast is strong at home, with only one loss in their last 10 matches.
On the other hand, Seychelles faces challenges, coming off three consecutive losses in the COSAFA Cup and a limited record of one victory in their last 50 matches dating back to 2016. Despite a 1-0 friendly win against Bangladesh in March, their recent form includes a 4-2 loss to Zambia, marking their fifth consecutive home defeat.
Wilfried Zaha, Nicolas Pepe, and Sebastien Haller are expected to lead Ivory Coast’s attack, supported by midfielders Franck Kessie and Jean Michael Seri. Seychelles, facing reported issues with players boycotting training, prepares for the upcoming matches with goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall, defender Jones Joubert, and midfielders Brandon Labrosse and Elijah Tamboo in the squad.
