Ivory Coast Star Sébastien Haller Set to Miss AFCON 2025 in Morocco Through Injury

Ivory Coast have been dealt a major blow ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, as star striker Sébastien Haller has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed the news in an official statement released on Friday, announcing that the experienced forward will not be available for selection for the continental showpiece.

Haller sustained a hamstring injury while playing for Dutch side FC Utrecht during a league match last weekend. Despite reporting to the national team’s training camp in Marbella, Spain, the striker has been undergoing medical treatment and assessment since his arrival. Following further evaluation, the medical team concluded that he would not recover in time to participate in the tournament.

Ivory Coast are scheduled to begin the defence of their title next Wednesday in Marrakech, where they will face Mozambique in their opening group match.