Yahia Fofana warns of fierce battle ahead as Ivory Coast prepare to defend AFCON crown

Yahia Fofana says Ivory Coast will arrive in Morocco with a single ambition as they begin the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title next month: to win it again.

The Elephants, champions on home soil in 2023, return to the continental stage from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 aiming to repeat a triumph that electrified the nation two years earlier.

In an interview, the goalkeeper, who played a decisive role in Ivory Coast’s last AFCON campaign, made clear that the squad’s mindset remains unchanged despite the weight of expectation.

“We’re going to Morocco to defend our title, with the clear objective of reclaiming it. When you participate in a competition of this level, especially after having already won it, you naturally want to win it again,” he said.

Fofana, capped 28 times, acknowledged that the landscape has shifted and that the Elephants will face formidable opposition.

Several of the continent’s strongest sides arrive in Morocco believing their moment has come, including the hosts themselves.

There will be competition. When you look at teams like Morocco, who will be playing at home with the support of their fans, or Senegal, Algeria, and Egypt, the competition will be truly intense. But in the end, the best team will win, he noted, pointing to what he expects will be one of the most contested tournaments of recent years.

Ivory Coast’s immediate challenge lies in navigating what Fofana described as one of the most unforgiving groups of the competition.

The Elephants have been drawn alongside Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique in Group F, a combination he believes will test the side from the outset.

This is truly the group of death. We’ve landed in a very difficult group. It’s full of top nations. Two teams already qualified through the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup (Cameroon and Gabon). That shows just how tough the group is. And then there’s Mozambique; we know they’re a team that often causes problems, like at the last AFCON where they gave Ghana a real run for their money, he said.

Despite the daunting task ahead, Fofana remains confident, pointing to the blend of experience and new energy that has shaped the current squad.

The group features several players who lifted the trophy in 2023, now joined by emerging names who have quickly adapted to the team’s demands.

It won’t be easy. It will be very difficult, in fact, but we now have the experience of the Africa Cup of Nations. We have players who have already won the tournament and new players who have integrated well into the team. The main objective is to get out of the group stage, and even though we know it will be a real challenge, the ultimate goal remains to bring home the cup, he added.

Ivory Coast’s AFCON squad, to be announced on 9 December, is expected to include the Çaykur Rizespor goalkeeper.

The Elephants will then travel to Marbella, Spain, for a pre-tournament camp featuring friendly matches against Zambia and DR Congo as preparations intensify.