Didier Drogba was part of the Cote d’ Ivoire squads in its previous three World Cup campaigns. | Photo Credit: AFP

For many years Cote d’Ivoire was synonymous with a golden generation of athletes that plied their trade in the Premier League. Led by the mercurial Didier Drogba and with a support cast featuring Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora and Salomon Kalou, the Elephants traversed new paths as a national team.

It is no surprise then that it was with these players on the field that the African nation enjoyed its best spell at the FIFA World Cup. Qualifying for the showpiece for the first time in 2006, the country was part of the tournament for three successive editions.

The end of the golden generation of players also brought about a dip in form for the national team. The current squad led by Emerse Fae, who shared the pitch with the above mentioned legends, has made it to the finals for the first time since 2014.

The Elephants have never qualified out of the group stage in the previous iterations and that will be the goal for the players this edition. The side was drafted into a group containing Netherlands and Argentina in 2006. The 2010 edition as well saw them share space with Brazil and Portugal, making qualification well out of reach.

The next edition in Brazil was the team’s best chance of making the Round of 16 but the side lost to both Colombia and Greece and failed to make the cut.

Ivory Coast at the World Cup:

Appearances: 3

Best finish: Group stage

Matches: 9

Wins: 3

Draws: 1

Losses: 5

Goals for: 13

Goals against: 14

Highest active goalscorer in squad: Franck Kessié (14 goals)

Published on Jun 15, 2026