Ivory Coast striker Sébastien Haller ruled out of Africa Cup of Nations with injury

By Canadian Press on December 19, 2025.

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Sébastien Haller, who led host nation Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title in the last edition, has been ruled out of the tournament starting Sunday because of injury.

The Ivorian Federation of Football (FIF) said on social media Friday that the 31-year-old Haller will miss the 2025 edition in Morocco because of an injury sustained while playing for Dutch team Utrecht. Haller reportedly injured his hamstring in a match against NAC Breda on Dec. 14.

He was to be replaced in the Ivorian squad by Aston Villa player Evann Guessand.

Haller missed the start of the 2023 Africa Cup because of an ankle injury, but he returned to score winning goals for Ivory Coast to beat Congo in the semifinals and then Nigeria in the final as the host nation completed a remarkable turnaround after near elimination.

Haller became the team’s hero one year after returning from cancer treatment.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Associated Press

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