Ivorians name strong squad to face Ghana at Nations Cup
Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic has named his predominantly foreign-based final 23-man squad to face Ghana at next month's Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
The Elephants are in Group B together with Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso at the Nations Cup finals.
Halilhodzic named Aboubacar Copa Barry as first choice goalkeeper and he will be supported by Benoit Zogbo Aristide and Vincent De Paul Angban in that pecking order.
The defence will be led by Kolo Toure and Bamba Suleiman and will be supported by Arthur Boka (left) and Emmanuel Eboue (right).
Also listed in the defence are Guy Demel, Siaka Tiene, Abdoulaye Meite and Brou Benjamin Angoua.
Didier Zokora, Yaya Toure and N'Dri Romaric head the Ivorian midfield which is complimented by Kouamatien Emmanuel Koné, Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso and Tioté Sheik.
Bakary Kone, Salomon Kalou, Abdul Kader Keita and Gervais Yao Kouassi Gervinho are upfront with Didier Drogba and Aruna Dindane.
Ivory Coast play the Black Stars on 15 January in the second Group B fixture.
The Elephants will camp in Tanzania and will play two build-up games against the Taifa Stars on January 4 and the second tie three days later in the capital Dar es saalam.
Squad:
Goalkeeepers: Copa Barry (Beveren-BE), Benoit Zogbo (Maccaibi Netanya-IS), Vincent Angban (ASEC-CI)
Defenders : Kolo Toure (Manchester City-ENG), Soulaiman Bamba (Hibernian FC-SC), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart-GER), Emmanuel Eboué (Arsenal-ENG), Guy Demel (Hambourg-GER), Siaka Tiené (Valenciennes-FR), Abdoulaye Méité (West Brom-ENG), Benjamin Brou (Budapest Honved-HU)
Midfielders: Didier Zokora (FC Sevilla-ES), Yaya Toure (FC Barcelona-ES), Koffi Romaric (FC Sevilla-ES), Emmanuel Koné (International-RO), Jean-Jacques Gosso (AS Monaco-FR), Cheik Tioté (FC Twente-NE), Bakary Koné (Olympique de Marseille-FR), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea-ENG)