Ivory Coast national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ivory Coast

Nickname	Les Éléphants (The Elephants)
Association	Fédération Ivorienne de Football (FIF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach	Emerse Faé
Captain	Franck Kessié
Most caps	Didier Zokora (123)
Top scorer	Didier Drogba (65)
Home stadium	Alassane Ouattara Stadium
FIFA code	CIV
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	66 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest	12 (February 2013, April–May 2013)
Lowest	75 (March–May 2004)
First international
Ivory Coast 3–2 Dahomey  (Madagascar, 13 April 1960)
Biggest win
Ivory Coast 11–0 Central African Republic  (Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 27 December 1961)
Biggest defeat
Netherlands 5–0 Ivory Coast  (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 4 June 2017)
World Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 2006)
Best result	Round of 32 (2026)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	26 (first in 1965)
Best result	Champions (1992, 2015, 2023)
African Nations Championship
Appearances	5 (first in 2009)
Best result	Third place (2016)
Confederations Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 1992)
Best result	Fourth place (1992)

The Ivory Coast national football team, also known as the Côte d'Ivoire by FIFA, represents the country of Ivory Coast in men's international football matches. They are famously nicknamed the Elephants. The team is managed by the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).

The Elephants have achieved great success. They won the Africa Cup of Nations three times: in 1992, 2015, and 2023. They have also played in the FIFA World Cup four times, in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2026.

The team's home colors are all orange. Since 2020, they have played their home games at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. Before that, they played at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium. Didier Zokora has played the most games for the team, with 123 appearances. Didier Drogba is their top goalscorer, having scored 65 goals.

The Elephants' Journey: A Look Back

Starting Strong: The Early Years (1960s-1980s)

The Ivory Coast national team played its very first international match on April 13, 1960. They won 3-2 against Dahomey, which is now known as Benin. This exciting game took place in Madagascar.

The team quickly showed their strength, achieving a huge 11-0 victory against the Central African Republic. In 1961, they first appeared in the Africa Cup of Nations. After gaining independence from France, the team earned third place in the tournaments of 1963 and 1965.

The 1970s brought mixed results. In the 1970 African Cup of Nations, they reached the semi-finals but finished fourth. They faced challenges in qualifying for other tournaments during this time. In 1984, Ivory Coast hosted the Africa Cup of Nations. They finished third again in 1986, showing their consistent performance.

Winning Big: The 1990s Glory

The 1990s were a golden age for the Elephants. At the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, they topped their group. They then won against Zambia and Cameroon to reach the final for the first time.

In a thrilling final against Ghana, the match went to a penalty shootout. Ivory Coast won 11-10, claiming their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title! They finished third in the 1994 tournament.

World Stage Debut: The 2000s Era

In October 2005, Ivory Coast made history by qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. This was their first time ever playing in the biggest football tournament in the world. They were in a tough group but managed to qualify after a crucial win against Sudan.

The team also finished as runners-up in the 2006 African Cup of Nations. In the 2006 World Cup, they scored their first World Cup goal through Didier Drogba. They also achieved their first World Cup victory, beating Serbia and Montenegro 3-2.

The national football team of the Côte d'Ivoire before a match against Poland in 2010

More World Cups and Another AFCON Title: The 2010s

Ivory Coast qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They were in another challenging group with strong teams like Brazil and Portugal. Despite their efforts, they were eliminated in the group stage.

The team made their third World Cup appearance in 2014 in Brazil. They won their first match against Japan but lost their next two games. This meant they were eliminated in the group stage for the third time in a row.

In 2015, the national team won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations for the second time. They defeated Ghana in an exciting penalty shootout after a scoreless game. The Elephants did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The national football team of the Côte d'Ivoire in 2022

Recent Triumphs: The 2020s

In early 2024, Ivory Coast hosted the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. After a difficult group stage, they qualified for the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. Their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, was replaced by assistant coach Emerse Faé.

Under Faé, the team showed incredible spirit. They defeated defending champions Senegal, then Mali, and DR Congo. In the final, they beat Nigeria 2-1 to win their third Africa Cup of Nations title! This was a historic win, as they were the first team to win the tournament after changing coaches during the competition.

The Elephants also participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They played their group stage matches in June 2026. They won against Ecuador (1-0) and Curaçao (2-0), but lost to Germany (2-1). They advanced to the Round of 32 and are scheduled to play their next match on June 30, 2026.

Where They Play: The Home Stadiums

From 1964 to 2020, the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium was the main place for home matches. This stadium in Abidjan could hold 50,000 fans. In 2020, the new Alassane Ouattara Stadium opened, also in Abidjan. It can hold 60,000 people and was used for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Cheering for the Elephants: Our Amazing Fans

Fans of the Elephants are known for being very lively and colorful. At Ivory Coast matches, you can often hear percussion bands in the supporter sections. These bands make sounds that mimic an elephant moving through a forest!

Recent Matches and Upcoming Games

The Ivory Coast national team has played many exciting matches recently. In the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which concluded in January 2026, they reached the Quarter-finals. They won against Mozambique (1-0), drew with Cameroon (1-1), and beat Gabon (3-2) in the group stage. In the knockout rounds, they defeated Burkina Faso (3-0) before losing to Egypt (3-2) in the Quarter-finals.

In March and June 2026, the team played several friendly matches. They had big wins against South Korea (4-0), Scotland (1-0), France (2-1), and Philadelphia Union II (2-0).

The Elephants also competed in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June 2026. They secured victories against Ecuador (1-0) and Curaçao (2-0), but faced a 2-1 defeat against Germany. They successfully advanced from their group and are scheduled to play in the Round of 32 on June 30, 2026.

Meet the Coaches: Guiding the Team

Emerse Faé, current head coach.

The current coaching staff helps the team perform at its best. Emerse Faé is the head coach, leading the Elephants. He is supported by assistant coaches, a goalkeeping coach, and other specialists.

Position	Name
Head coach	Emerse Faé
Assistant coaches	Guy Demel Alain Gouaméné
Goalkeeping coach	Gérard Gnanhouan
Fitness coach	Tiémoko Diallo
Video analyst	Hervé Yao N'Guessan
Doctor	Rodrigue Kouassi
Physiotherapists	Aurélien Koffi Bakary Mendy Gervais Soumaré
Masseur	Patrice Ouattara
Ostheopath	Mahamadou Bakayoko
Team nutritionist	Elysée Sawadogo
Team cooks	Yahia Diawara Ezechiel Koné Aminata Sidibé
Team coordinator	Alphonse Sangaré
Technical director	Boubacar Barry
Head of delegation	Didier Zokora

Past Coaches: Who Led the Way?

Many talented coaches have guided the Ivory Coast national team throughout its history. These leaders have helped shape the team and its players over the years.

The Team: Our Talented Players

Current Squad: Who's Playing Now?

On May 15, 2026, the following 26 players were chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They also played in a friendly match against France on June 4, 2026. Clément Akpa was injured and replaced by Christopher Opéri on May 29. Caps and goals updated as of June 25, 2026, after the match against Curaçao.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Yahia Fofana	(2000-08-21) 21 August 2000 (age 25)	38	0	Çaykur Rizespor
16	1GK	Mohamed Koné	(2002-03-07) 7 March 2002 (age 24)	0	0	Charleroi
23	1GK	Alban Lafont	(1999-01-23) 23 January 1999 (age 27)	4	0	Panathinaikos
2	2DF	Ousmane Diomande	(2003-12-04) 4 December 2003 (age 22)	16	1	Sporting CP
3	2DF	Ghislain Konan (fourth captain)	(1995-12-27) 27 December 1995 (age 30)	56	0	Gil Vicente
5	2DF	Wilfried Singo	(2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 (age 25)	36	1	Galatasaray
7	2DF	Odilon Kossounou	(2001-01-04) 4 January 2001 (age 25)	39	0	Atalanta
13	2DF	Christopher Opéri	(1997-04-29) 29 April 1997 (age 29)	13	0	İstanbul Başakşehir
17	2DF	Guéla Doué	(2002-10-17) 17 October 2002 (age 23)	23	3	Strasbourg
20	2DF	Emmanuel Agbadou	(1997-06-07) 7 June 1997 (age 29)	22	2	Beşiktaş
21	2DF	Evan Ndicka	(1999-08-20) 20 August 1999 (age 26)	28	0	Roma
4	3MF	Jean Michaël Seri (vice-captain)	(1991-07-19) 19 July 1991 (age 34)	66	4	Maribor
6	3MF	Seko Fofana	(1995-05-07) 7 May 1995 (age 31)	35	7	Porto
8	3MF	Franck Kessié (captain)	(1996-12-19) 19 December 1996 (age 29)	105	16	Al-Ahli
18	3MF	Ibrahim Sangaré (third captain)	(1997-12-02) 2 December 1997 (age 28)	60	12	Nottingham Forest
25	3MF	Parfait Guiagon	(2001-02-22) 22 February 2001 (age 25)	5	0	Charleroi
26	3MF	Christ Inao Oulaï	(2006-04-06) 6 April 2006 (age 20)	12	0	Trabzonspor
9	4FW	Ange-Yoan Bonny	(2003-10-25) 25 October 2003 (age 22)	4	0	Inter Milan
10	4FW	Simon Adingra	(2002-01-01) 1 January 2002 (age 24)	30	5	Monaco
11	4FW	Yan Diomande	(2006-11-14) 14 November 2006 (age 19)	13	3	RB Leipzig
12	4FW	Elye Wahi	(2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 23)	4	0	Nice
14	4FW	Oumar Diakité	(2003-12-20) 20 December 2003 (age 22)	31	6	Cercle Brugge
15	4FW	Amad Diallo	(2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 24)	22	7	Manchester United
19	4FW	Nicolas Pépé (fifth captain)	(1995-05-29) 29 May 1995 (age 31)	59	14	Villarreal
22	4FW	Evann Guessand	(2001-07-01) 1 July 2001 (age 25)	22	4	Crystal Palace
24	4FW	Bazoumana Touré	(2006-03-02) 2 March 2006 (age 20)	8	2	TSG Hoffenheim

Other Players Who Have Joined Recently

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the last twelve months and are still able to play for Ivory Coast.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Ira Eliezer Tapé	(1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 (age 28)	2	0	TS Galaxy	2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
GK	Charles Folly Ayayi	(1990-12-29) 29 December 1990 (age 35)	8	0	ASEC Mimosas	v.  Gabon, 9 September 2025
DF	Clément Akpa	(2001-11-24) 24 November 2001 (age 24)	5	0	Auxerre	2026 FIFA World Cup INJ
DF	Jean-Philippe Gbamin	(1995-09-25) 25 September 1995 (age 30)	23	0	Metz	2025 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Willy Boly	(1991-02-03) 3 February 1991 (age 35)	22	1	Nottingham Forest	2025 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Armel Zohouri	(2001-04-05) 5 April 2001 (age 25)	5	0	Iberia 1999	2025 Africa Cup of Nations
DF	Junior Diaz	(2003-07-23) 23 July 2003 (age 22)	1	0	Brest	v.  Kenya, 14 October 2025
DF	Luck Zogbé	(2005-03-24) 24 March 2005 (age 21)	4	0	Brest	v.  Gabon, 9 September 2025
MF	Malick Yalcouyé	(2005-11-18) 18 November 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Swansea City	2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF	Mario Dorgeles	(2004-08-07) 7 August 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Braga	v.  Oman, 18 November 2025
MF	Pacôme Zouzoua	(1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 29)	6	0	Young Africans	v.  Kenya, 14 October 2025
MF	Kader Keïta	(2000-11-06) 6 November 2000 (age 25)	1	0	Rapid București	v.  Kenya, 14 October 2025
FW	Sébastien Haller	(1994-06-22) 22 June 1994 (age 32)	34	11	Utrecht	2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
FW	Martial Godo	(2003-03-14) 14 March 2003 (age 23)	1	1	Strasbourg	2026 FIFA World Cup PRE
FW	Bénie Traoré	(2002-11-30) 30 November 2002 (age 23)	7	0	Basel	v.  Scotland, 31 March 2026
FW	Wilfried Zaha	(1992-11-10) 10 November 1992 (age 33)	36	5	Charlotte FC	2025 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Jean-Philippe Krasso	(1997-07-17) 17 July 1997 (age 28)	28	9	Paris FC	2025 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Vakoun Issouf Bayo	(1997-01-10) 10 January 1997 (age 29)	12	3	Udinese	2025 Africa Cup of Nations
FW	Richard Kone	(2003-07-15) 15 July 2003 (age 23)	1	0	Queens Park Rangers	v.  Oman, 18 November 2025
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up. INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. SUS Suspended from the national team.

Team Records: Top Players

Players in bold are still active with Ivory Coast.

Most Games Played: The Veterans

Didier Zokora, the player with the most appearances for Ivory Coast

Top Scorers: Finding the Net

Didier Drogba, the all-time leading goalscorer for Ivory Coast

Tournament History: How Far Have They Gone?

FIFA World Cup: Global Stage

The Ivory Coast national team has proudly represented their country in the FIFA World Cup several times. They first qualified in 2006 and have continued to compete against the world's best teams.

FIFA World Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1958	Part of  France										Part of  France
1962	Not a FIFA member										Not a FIFA member
1966 and 1970	Did not enter										Did not enter
1974	Did not qualify										6	3	2	1	8	7
1978											6	3	2	1	11	10
1982	Did not enter										Did not enter
1986	Did not qualify										4	1	1	2	6	5
1990											4	1	2	1	5	1
1994											8	4	3	1	12	6
1998											2	0	1	1	1	3
2002											10	5	4	1	22	10
2006	Group stage	19th	3	1	0	2	5	6	Squad		10	7	1	2	20	7
2010		17th	3	1	1	1	4	3	Squad		12	8	4	0	29	6
2014		21st	3	1	0	2	4	5	Squad		8	5	3	0	19	7
2018	Did not qualify										8	4	2	2	11	5
2022											6	4	1	1	10	3
2026	in progress	TBD	3	2	0	1	4	2	Squad		10	8	2	0	25	0
2030	To be determined										To be determined
2034
Total:4/15	Group stage	17th	12	5	1	6	17	16	−		94	53	28	13	179	70

Africa Cup of Nations: Continental Champions

The Africa Cup of Nations is the biggest football tournament in Africa. Ivory Coast has a fantastic record in this competition, winning it three times!

Africa Cup of Nations record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957	Part of  France									Part of  France
1959
1962	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1963
1965	Third place	3rd	3	2	0	1	5	4		4	3	0	1	9	4
1968			5	3	0	2	9	6		4	3	1	0	7	0
1970	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	11	9		2	1	1	0	4	0
1972	Did not qualify									4	3	0	1	6	5
1974	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	5		4	4	0	0	10	5
1976	Did not qualify									2	0	2	0	2	2
1978	Banned									Banned
1980	Group stage	6th	3	0	2	1	2	3		4	4	0	0	8	2
1982	Did not enter									Did not enter
1984	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	4	4		Qualified as hosts
1986	Third place	3rd	5	3	0	2	7	5		4	3	1	0	9	1
1988	Group stage	6th	3	0	3	0	2	2		4	4	0	0	4	3
1990		6th	3	1	0	2	3	5		4	3	1	0	10	3
1992	Champions	1st	5	2	3	0	4	0		6	5	0	1	9	3
1994	Third place	3rd	5	3	1	1	11	5		Qualified as defending champions
1996	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	2	5		4	1	2	1	5	4
1998	Quarter-finals	7th	4	2	2	0	10	6		6	4	1	1	10	8
2000	Group stage	9th	3	1	1	1	3	4		6	3	2	1	7	2
2002		16th	3	0	1	2	1	4		8	4	3	1	17	4
2004	Did not qualify									4	2	1	1	8	3
2006	Runners-up	2nd	6	3	2	1	6	5		10	7	1	2	20	7
2008	Fourth place	4th	6	4	0	2	16	9		4	3	1	0	13	0
2010	Quarter-finals	8th	3	1	1	1	5	4		12	8	4	0	29	6
2012	Runners-up	2nd	6	5	1	0	9	0		6	6	0	0	19	5
2013	Quarter-finals	5th	4	2	1	1	8	5		2	2	0	0	6	2
2015	Champions	1st	6	3	3	0	9	4		6	3	1	2	13	11
2017	Group stage	11th	3	0	2	1	2	3		4	1	3	0	3	1
2019	Quarter-finals	5th	5	3	1	1	7	3		6	3	2	1	12	5
2021	Round of 16	10th	4	2	2	0	6	3		6	4	1	1	11	5
2023	Champions	1st	7	4	1	2	8	8		6	4	1	1	9	5
2025	Quarter-finals	6th	5	3	1	1	10	6		6	4	0	2	12	3
2027	To be determined									To be determined
2028
Total	3 Titles	26/35	111	51	29	31	162	117		138	92	29	17	272	99

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

**Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won.

***Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

African Nations Championship: Home Grown Talent

This tournament is special because only players who play in their home country's league can participate. Ivory Coast has done well here too!

African Nations Championship record
Appearances: 5
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2009	Group stage	8th	3	0	1	2	0	4
2011	Group stage	12th	3	1	0	2	2	4
2014	Did not qualify
2016	Third place	3rd	6	4	0	2	10	4
2018	Group stage	14th	3	0	1	2	0	3
2020	Did not qualify
2022	Quarter-finals	6th	4	1	1	2	3	3
Total	Third place	5/7	19	6	3	10	15	18

FIFA Confederations Cup: A Global Challenge

The FIFA Confederations Cup brought together champions from different continents. Ivory Coast participated once, showing their strength on a global stage.

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad
1992	Fourth place	4th	2	0	0	2	2	9	Squad
1995 to 2017	Did not qualify
Total	Fourth place	1/10	2	0	0	2	2	9	–

Awards and Trophies: What They've Won

The Ivory Coast national team has won many honors throughout its history, both on the continent of Africa and in other competitions.

Intercontinental

• Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
  • Runners-up (1): 1993

Continental

• CAF Africa Cup of Nations
  • Champions (3): 1992, 2015, 2023
  • Runners-up (2): 2006, 2012
  • Third place (4): 1965, 1968, 1986, 1994
• CAF African Nations Championship
  • Third place (1): 2016
• African Games¹
  • Bronze medal (1): 1965

Regional

• CEDEAO Cup
  • Champions (3): 1983, 1987, 1991
  • Runners-up (1): 1985
  • Third place (1): 1990
• West African Nations Cup
  •   Third place (2): 1983, 1984
• UEMOA Tournament
  • Champions (2): 2007, 2008

Awards

• African National Team of the Year (3): 1992, 2015, 2024
• Africa Cup of Nations Fair Play Award (1): 2012

Summary

Competition				Total
CAF African Cup of Nations	3	2	4	9
CAF African Nations Championship	0	0	1	1
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations	0	1	0	1
Total	3	3	5	11

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Costa de Marfil para niños

• Ivory Coast national under-20 football team
• Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations