Nations Cup heroes recalled to Ivory Coast squad

Ivory Coast team

The entire 23-man Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations victorious squad have been recalled for two friendly matches at home next week.

Coach Herve Renard has added five new players and has also handed token recalls to retired duo Kolo Toure and Boubacar Barry in his 28-man squad as the new African champions prepare for the two games.

The Elephants will face Angola and Equatorial Guinea on 26 and 29 March respectively in Abidjan.

Also returning are Bastia forward Giovanni Sio, TP Mazembe midfielder Christian Koffi Kouame and goalkeeper Abdoul Karim Cisse from Sporting Gagnoa.

There are first call-ups for goalkeeper Namory Diomande and defender Simon Deli. Diomande plays for local giants ASEC Mimosas while Deli is on the books of Czech club Slavia Prague.

The two friendlies will give fans an opportunity to see the Nations Cup trophy and celebrate with their heroes, according to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).

Retired Kolo Toure and Barry will join injured quintet Sylvain Gbohouo, Serge Aurier, Wilfried Kanon, Ismael Diomande and Lacina Traore as the Ivorian Federation continue to celebrate the Elephants' triumph in Equatorial Guinea.

Ivory Coast squad:

Goalkeepers: Gbohouo Sylvain (TP Mazembe, DRC), Mande Sayouba (Staebek, Norway), Barry Coppa Boubacar (Lokeren, Belgium), Namory Diomande (Asec Mimosas), Abdoul Karim Cisse (Sporting Gagnoa)

Defenders: Aurier Serge (PSG, France), Tiene Siaka (Montpellier, France), Viera Ousmane (Rizespor, Turkey), Kolo Toure (Liverpool, England), Wilfried Kanon (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands), Eric Bertrand Bailly (Villarreal, Spain), Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Toulouse, France), Simon Deli (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)

Midfielders: Ismael Diomande and Max Gradel (St Etienne, France), Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England), Geoffrey Serey Die (VFB Stuttgart, Germany), Kader Cheick Doukoure (Metz, France), Cheick Tiote (Newcastle, England), Christian Koffi Kouame (TP Mazembe, DRC)

Forwards: Gervinho and Seydou Doumbia (AS Roma, Italy), Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Lacina Traore (Monaco, France), Junior Tallo and Giovanni Sio (Bastia, France), Wilfried Bony (Manchester City, England), Roger Asale (TP Mazembe, DRC)