Stars included in Ivory Coast's preliminary 28

Mike Hewitt

Stars included in Ivory Coast's preliminary 28 - Ivory Coast boss Sabri Lamouchi has named his preliminary World Cup squad.

Ivory Coast are almost certainly the strongest African team we'll see in Brazil this summer; a view reinforced by manager Sabri Lamouchi's strong provisional 28-man squad. There are a handful of star names included; with both Yaya and Kolo Touré, Didier Drogba and Wilfried Bony making the cut. There is, however, no spot for former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué.

Other big names that are included are midfielders Cheik Tioté and Didier Ya Konan from Newcastle and Hannover respectively, though it's up front where they look the most well-stocked. Alongside Drogba and Bony are AS Roma's Gervinho, Lille's Salomon Kalou, CSKA Moscow's Seydou Doumbia and Lacina Traoré, who moved on loan to Everton earlier this year but was hampered by injury.

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Sylvain Gbohouo (Séwé Sport), Ali Sangaré Badra (Asec Mimosas), Sayouba Mandé (Stabaek).

Defenders: Kolo Touré (Liverpool), Sol Bamba (Trabzonspor), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes), Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba (Caykur Rizespor), Constant Djakpa (Frankfurt), Brice Dja Djédjé (Marseille), Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse).

Midfielders: Yaya Touré (Manchester City), Cheik Tioté (Newcastle), Serey Die (Basel), Max Gradel (Saint-Étienne), Ismaël Diomande (Saint-Étienne), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover), Mathis Bolly (Dusseldorf).

Forwards: Gervinho (AS Roma), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Wilfried Bony (Swansea), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Lacina Traoré (Everton), Giovanni Sio (Basel). // ( sbnation.com )

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No surprises in Ivory Coast World Cup squad

No surprises in Ivory Coast World Cup squad

No surprises in Ivory Coast World Cup squad  - Sabri Lamouchi has named his preliminary Ivory Coast squad for the FIFA World Cup with few surprises in the 28-man group.

Ivory Coast has been drawn in Group C alongside Colombia, Greece and Japan as it looks to reach the knock out stages for the first time in its history.

And the African nation will do so with a strong squad that features an array of talent from Europe's top leagues.

Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba is set to captain the side in what looks likely to be his last World Cup, while his former Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou is also included.

Roma'a Gervinho and Wilfried Bony, who scored 26 goals in his first season at Swansea City, are another two strikers to get the nod.

Lacina Traore's injury-hit campaign has not prevented the Monaco striker from being selected, but midfielder Jean-Jacques Gosso misses out.

Toulouse defender Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro and Saint-Etienne midfielder Ismael Diomande are uncapped inclusions and will look to break into the side on football's grandest stage.

Lamouchi's men meet Japan in Recife on June 14 in their opening game.

Goalkeepers: Badra Ali (ASEC Mimosas), Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Sylvain Gbohouo (Sewe Sport), Sayouba Mande (Stabaek).

Defenders: Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (Toulouse), Benjamin Angoua Brou (Valenciennes), Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Souleyman Bamba (Trabzonspor), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Brice Dja Djedje (Marseille), Kolo Toure (Liverpool), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Ousman Vieira (Caykur Rizespor).

Midfielders: Mathis Bolly (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Constant Djakpa (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ismael Diomande (Saint-Etienne), Max-Alain Gradel (Saint-Etienne), Romaric (Bastia), Cheick Tiote (Newcastle United), Yaya Toure (Manchester City), Geoffroy Serey Die (Basel), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover 96).

Forwards: Wilfried Bony (Swansea), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Gervinho (Roma), Salomon Kalou (Lille), Giovanni Sio (Basel), Lacina Traore (Monaco). // ( goal.com )

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