Ivory Coast: A headache for the coach at the start of this training camp

Ivory Coast are looking to turn the page after a disappointing campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and begin a new cycle under coach Ibrahim Kamara. However, this fresh start is already facing early turbulence.

For the upcoming friendly matches against Benin and Tunisia, Kamara had initially named a 26-man squad. But the preparations have been disrupted by a series of setbacks, with injuries and administrative issues complicating the team’s training camp in France.

Four players have already been ruled out through injury: Abdoulaye Bamba, Jean-Eudes Aholou, Yakou Méité, and Maxwell Cornet. Their withdrawals forced the technical staff to call up replacements, inevitably reshaping the coach’s plans just days before the matches.

As if that were not enough, two other players failed to report for the first day of the training camp. Wonlo Coulibaly and Cheick Comara were both absent, sparking confusion and speculation. The Ivorian Football Federation cited transfer-related issues, while local outlet Sport-Ivoire reported that visa problems were behind their delayed arrival. Whatever the true reason, the uncertainty surrounding their situation is unlikely to reassure the coaching staff.

With a depleted and unsettled squad, Ibrahim Kamara must now adjust his approach as he attempts to lay the foundations for a new era with the Elephants. These early disruptions risk undermining cohesion and preparation ahead of the friendly encounters, which were meant to serve as a platform to rebuild confidence and test new options.

For Ivory Coast, this September window already feels like a difficult return to school — one that has begun under the shadow of setbacks rather than renewal