A trio of well-known Cote D’Ivoire stars will be absent for the Elephants when they take on Hungary in a friendly match next week, as club commitments stand in the way of their participation in the May 20 encounter set for Budapest.
Paris Saint-Germain defender Serge Aurier, Hebei China Fortune striker Gervinho and Turkey-based Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba of Rizespor are missing from the squad due to club duty, according to the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).
Manchester City star midfielder Yaya Toure is another of the big name players who will not be in the team to face the Hungarians, with coach Michel Dussuyer opting to leave him out of the squad in an effort to let the four-time African Player of the Year rest after a long English Premier League season.
With a few key players missing from the side, a number of new faces could enter the fray, with the likes of Sparta Prague midfielder Tiemoko Konate and Bristol City striker Jonathan Kodjia in with a chance of playing a part against Hungary.
With the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) seven months away, teams are preparing their squads and using friendly matches to decide on their best teams.
The Elephants will be doing the same at this stage, with far more pressure on them as defending champions, but perhaps Dussuyer is secure in the knowledge that his stars will be ready come Gabon 2017, while other elements of his squad still require decision-making.
The Ivorians will hold a training camp in Paris early next week before travelling to Budapest for the friendly match which will take place on Friday.
They will then make their way to the Ivorian capital of Abidjan for preparations ahead of a their friendly with Gabon on June 4 in Bouake.
