Sebastien Haller has withdrawn from Ivory Coast’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to injury, Afrosport reports.
The 31-year-old striker picked up the injury while playing for Dutch club FC Utrecht in their 1-1 draw with NAC Breda last weekend.
He scored the winning goal as the Elephants beat Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the 2023 AFCON tournament, handing Ivory Coast their third continental title.
Head coach Emerse Fae has quickly replaced Haller with Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand. The 24-year-old has two goals in 18 games for the Premier League side since his summer move from Nice.
Guessand, who has made 15 appearances for Ivory Coast, was initially named on the reserve list.
Ivory Coast are drawn in a tough Group F, contending with Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique. The defending champions face the Mozambicans in their opening match on Wednesday, before facing Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions and Gabon.
