Sebastien Haller of Cote dIvoire ©Mohamed Aly/BackpagePix
Saturday Dec 20, 2025. 09:55
Ivorian striker Sebastien Haller has been ruled out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to injury.
The news was announced by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football on Friday.
“Sebastien Haller is out of the 2025 AFCON due to an injury sustained on December 14 with FC Utrecht,” reads a X post released by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football on Friday.
“The Ivorian Football Federation wishes a speedy recovery to its African Champion Sebastien Haller and renews all its support for him.”
The Ivorian Football Federation wishes a speedy recovery to its African Champion Sébastien Haller and renews all its support for him
Haller suffered a hamstring injury whilst on duty for his club Utrecht at the weekend in their Eredivisie clash against NAC Breda on Sunday.
The striker came on as a substitute in the 68th minute but had to be replaced in the 80th minute by Dani de Wit.
Haller was instrumental for Côte d’Ivoire in the last edition of AFCON, despite missing the Elephants’ group stage games with an ankle injury.
He played in all of his nation’s knockout-stage games and scored the winning goal in the final against Nigeria to secure the continental title for Côte d’Ivoire on home soil.
Haller will be replaced by Aston Villa’s Evann Guessand, who was on the Elephants’ reserve list.
By Nic Gleeson