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Ivory Coast Defender Evan Ndicka to Miss World Cup Debut Against Ecuador Due to Injury
🇪🇨 Ecuador /Sports

Ivory Coast Defender Evan Ndicka to Miss World Cup Debut Against Ecuador Due to Injury

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Ivory Coast defender Evan Ndicka will miss the team's World Cup 2026 debut against Ecuador due to a muscle injury.
  • The Roma player has not fully recovered from a thigh injury sustained in May.
  • Coach Emerse Faé is optimistic Ndicka will play later in the tournament.

Ivory Coast will be without a key defender for their World Cup 2026 debut against Ecuador, as coach Emerse Faé confirmed that Evan Ndicka will not be available for the match in Philadelphia. The Roma center-back is still recovering from a muscle injury he sustained in May and has not yet reached full fitness for the African team's opening game in Group E, which also includes Germany and Curacao.

"Except for Evan Ndicka, all players are available for tomorrow. We are very happy in that aspect," Faé stated during the pre-match press conference. Ndicka, 26, is considered a cornerstone of Ivory Coast's defense and a regular starter in Faé's tactical setup. He suffered a hamstring tear in his right leg during the Serie A derby between Roma and Lazio on May 17.

Except for Evan Ndicka, all players are available for tomorrow. We are very happy in that aspect.

— Emerse FaéThe Ivory Coast coach confirmed Ndicka's unavailability for the match against Ecuador.

At the time of the injury, medical services estimated a recovery period of three to four weeks. Although Ndicka has shown positive progress, he is still experiencing physical discomfort. Consequently, the coaching staff has decided not to risk him in the team's crucial World Cup opener. Odilon Kossounou, a defender for Atalanta, is expected to partner with Ousmane Diomandé of Sporting Lisbon in the central defense.

Despite missing the first match, the Ivorian coach expressed confidence that Ndicka would participate in the remainder of the championship. "If we didn't believe he could play in this World Cup, we wouldn't have called him up. We are convinced he will be able to contribute minutes during the tournament," Faé affirmed. The defender's absence is seen as a positive development for Ecuador, as they prepare to face one of Africa's strongest teams in a match that could be decisive for both sides' qualification aspirations.

If we didn't believe he could play in this World Cup, we wouldn't have called him up. We are convinced he will be able to contribute minutes during the tournament.

— Emerse FaéThe coach expressed optimism about Ndicka's potential return later in the tournament.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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