CAN 2027: Renard announces Ivory Coast squad, Solet opts for the Elephants

Oumar Solet, Udinese defender, has chosen to represent Ivory Coast after playing for France's youth teams, and is included in Hervé Renard's squad for November qualifiers against Gambia.

Oumar Solet has opted to represent Ivory Coast after representing France at youth level, with two caps for the U20 and U21 sides in 2019. The 26-year-old Udinese defender has accepted a call-up from Ivory Coast manager Hervé Renard for the double-header against Gambia on 12 and 17 November in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and could earn his first senior cap for the Elephants.

Solet, who previously played for Stade Lavallois and Olympique Lyonnais, follows a different path from his brother Isaac, who chose to represent the Central African Republic and has earned 14 caps. Renard's squad also includes several Ligue 1 players such as Luck Zogbé (Brest), Elye Wahi (Nice), Martial Godo (Strasbourg), Patrick Zabi (Paris FC), and Yaya Fofana (Reims), with Fofana also receiving his first call-up.

Ivory Coast lead their qualifying group with two victories—2-0 wins over Ghana and Somalia—and will look to maintain their momentum ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place from 19 June to 18 July across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.