Hervé Renard calls up Valou Ives Jean as reinforcement to take on Gambia

Hervé Renard is bolstering his squad ahead of the trip to The Gambia. Originally on international duty with the Ivory Coast U23s, Valou Ives Jean has been called up to the senior national team for the remainder of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

In a statement, the Ivorian Football Federation has officially announced the call-up of the 20-year-old defender, who plays for Getafe CF in Spain.

“The Ivorian Football Federation announces that Valou Ives Jean, a 20-year-old defender playing for Getafe CF (Spain), has joined the senior national team.

Originally part of the U23 squad for the qualifiers in that age group, the player was called up this Friday to bolster the Elephants ahead of their trip to Bakau, in The Gambia, where they will face the Scorpions on matchday 4 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” stated the governing body of Ivorian football.

This reinforcement comes ahead of the return leg against The Gambia, scheduled for 17 November, following Côte d’Ivoire’s 2-1 victory in the first leg, played on 12 November in Bouaké. The Elephants go into this match full of confidence, having won all three of their matches in these qualifiers so far.