Yaya Toure Turns Down Cote D’ Ivoire Call-Up

[caption id="attachment_25448" align="alignnone" alt="Yaya Toure" /> Yaya Toure[/caption] Ivory Coast captain and midfielder, Yaya Toure has decided to take a break from international football as the ‘elephants’ get set to battle Sierra Leone for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers’ Group I tie in Lagos on September 6. This was disclosed by the team coach of the African champions, Michel Dussuye, at a recent press conference. “As far as Yaya Touré is concerned, he is currently considering his international future,” Côte d’Ivoire’s boss Michel Dussuyer said at a press conference. “I met him in London and said I was counting on him. He is a great player and the team’s captain, and I hope he will extend his journey with the Elephants,” he revealed. Last month, the coach announced a 23-man squad ahead of their fixture against the Leone stars. Siaka Tiéné, Lacina Traoré and Tallo Gadji were all left out due to lack of playing time at their respective clubs while the Olympique Marseille’s right-back Brice Dja Djédjé and Newcastle United’s midfielder Cheick Tioté declined their call-up. CÔTE D’IVOIRE 23-PLAYER SQUAD Goalkeepers: GBOHOUO Sylvain (TP Mazembe – DR Congo) SANGARE BADRA Ali (ASEC Mimosas – Côte d’Ivoire) SAYOUBA Mande (Stabaek – Norway) Defenders: AURIER Serge (Paris SG – France) BAGAYOKO Mamadou (KV St Trond – Belgium) BAILLY Eric (Villareal – Spain) DELI Simon (Slavia Prague – Czech Republic) JYMOH Sheriff (Athletic Adjame – Côte d’Ivoire) KESSIE Franck (AC Cesena – Italy) TRAORE Adama (FC Bâle –Switzerland) VIERA Ousmane (Rizespor – Turkey) Midfielders: AKPA AKPRO Jean Daniel (Toulouse FC – France) DIOMANDE Ismaël (AS St Etienne – France) N’GUESSAN Yao Serge (AFAD – Côte d’Ivoire) SEREY DIE Geoffrey (VfB Stuttgart – Germany) SERI Jean Michaël (OGC Nice – France) Forwards: BONY Wilfried (Manchester City – England) DOUMBIA Seydou (CSKA Moscow – Russia) GERVINHO (AS Roma – Italy) GRADEL Max Alain (Bournemouth – England) KALOU Salomon (Hertha Berlin – Germany) SIO Giovanni (Stade Rennais – France) TOURE Thomas (Girondins de Bordeaux – France)