SOCCER: Ivorian hero Haller faces anxious wait ahead of Cup of Nations

Ivory Coast title hero Sebastien Haller is racing against time to recover from a hamstring injury that could rule him out of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Medical tests are ongoing as the Elephants prepare to begin their title defence against Mozambique.

REUTERS

December 19, 2025

Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - First Leg - Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 10, 2024 Borussia Dortmund's Sebastien Haller celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Juan Medina

Juan Medina

RABAT – Striker Sebastien Haller, whose goals carried Ivory Coast to their most recent Africa Cup of Nations title, could miss this month’s tournament in Morocco due to injury.

Haller suffered a hamstring injury while playing for Dutch club Utrecht over the weekend. He has been undergoing treatment since joining the Ivorian squad at their training camp in Marbella, Spain, earlier this week.

The Ivorian Football Federation said it is still awaiting medical test results before making a decision on the 31-year-old forward’s availability for the tournament.

Haller missed the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations because of an ankle injury but returned during the knockout stages. He went on to score the decisive goals in both the semi-final and final, leading Ivory Coast to the championship.

Ivory Coast will begin the defense of their title against Mozambique in Marrakech next Wednesday. -Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Rabat; Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters