Pepe recalled to Ivory Coast squad to replace injured Diomande

Nicolas Pepe has been recalled to the Ivory Coast national team as a replacement for injured youngster Yann Diomande ahead of upcoming international friendlies.

Diomande’s withdrawal opened the door for Pepe, who was initially omitted from the squad for matches against South Korea and Scotland.

Pepe returns after recent absence

The 30-year-old forward had been left out of recent selections, including the Africa Cup of Nations, where Ivory Coast were eliminated at the quarter-final stage while defending their title.

Pepe, who plays for Villarreal, has recorded five La Liga goals this season and last featured for the national team in October.

His absence from recent squads followed controversy surrounding comments made about Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations record, which led to criticism and online abuse. The player later issued an apology and expressed dissatisfaction with the support he received.

World Cup preparations

The recall comes as Ivory Coast continue preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the World Cup, where they are set to face Ecuador, Germany and Curacao in the group stage.

Pepe’s inclusion adds experience to the squad as the team looks to strengthen its attacking options following Diomande’s injury setback.