2025 AFCONQ: Ivory Coast handed Sebastien Haller blow

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Tuesday Sep 03, 2024. 13:00

Ivory Coast will be without their star striker during the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

The African champions are scheduled to take on Zambia at home on Friday, 6 September and Chad away on Tuesday, 10 September.

Sebastien Haller will miss the matches due to his recent loan transfer to Spanish La Liga side CD Leganes from German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

The 30-year-old, who scored Ivory Coast’s winning goal in the 2023 AFCON final against Nigeria, has been replaced by France-based striker Jean-Philippe Krasso in the squad.

“The federation Ivorian Football informs the Press and the public that the player Sébastien Haller summoned by the Selector Emerse Faé in the framework of the 1st and 2nd Days of the qualifiers of the CAN Morocco 2025, will be unavailable for reasons of transfer to another club,” an Ivorian Football Federation statement read.

“Indeed, the Ivorian international transferred to Leganés (Spain) in the last moments of the Mercato, will be at the disposal of his new club, especially for the medical examination.

“Therefore, Sébastien HALLER is replaced by Jean-Philippe KRASSO of Paris FC for this FIFA window from 02 to 10 September 2024.”