Gervinho has been included in Ivory Coast’s squad for friendlies against Belgium and Japan in October, marking a return to the national set-up for the Parma winger after 3 long years.
The legendary attacker last played for his country in November 2017 when he featured in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Morocco.
The Elephants, who are yet to play a game since November, will first play Belgium on October 8 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels before battling Japan five days later at the Stadion Galgenwaard in the Netherlands.
Ivory Coast were initially scheduled to face the Super Eagles Nigeria on October 9 in Austria but they pulled out of the encounter due to “internal problems”.
The Elephants head coach Patrice Beaumelle convinced Gervinho to return to the national team for preparations ahead of a crucial qualifier against Bareas on November 9.
Gervinho is one of the most capped Ivorian and the second-best international scorer in the history of his country.
The former Arsenal and AS Roma player joined his current club Parma in 2018 after two seasons with Chinese club Hebei China Fortune and scored 11 goals in his first season, helping the promoted side stay in the top flight.
However, former Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Kamara snubbed the winger, insisting his decision has nothing to do with the player’s age or form, but because he has plenty of familiar options at his disposal.
Gervinho has played in five Nations Cup tournaments in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015. He also played for his country at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
The 32-year-old veteran has been named alongside Wilfred Zaha, Nicolas Pepe, Akpa Akpro and FC Sion’s defensive midfielder Serey Dié who had announced his retirement from international football in September 2016.
There has also been a call-up for uncapped midfielder Juma Saeed, who plays for little known outfit Al-Koweit.
The two friendlies are expected to prepare the 2015 African champions for their back-to-back 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar in November.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers : Sylvain Gbohouo (TP Mazembe/RD Congo), Eliezer Ira Tape (FC San Pedro/Côte d’Ivoire), Nicolas Tié (Vitória Guimarães/Portugal)
Défenders : Éric Bailly (Manchester United/Angleterre), Ismaël Traore (SCO Angers/France), Simon Déli (Club Bruges/Belgique), Sinaly Diomandé (Olympique lyonnais/France), Odilon Kossounou (Club Bruges/Belgique), Serge Aurier (Tottenham/Angleterre), Wilfried Kanon (Pyramids FC/Égypte), Ghislain Konan (Stade de Reims/France)
Midfilders : Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro (Lazio Rome/Italie), Maxwell Cornet (Olympique lyonnais/France), Geoffroy Serey Die (FC Sion/Suisse), Habib Maiga (FC Metz/France), Jean Michaël Seri (Fulham/Angleterre), Mohamed Doumbia (Dukla Pragues/République tchèque), Franck Kessié (AC Milan/Italie)
Forwards : Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal/Angleterre), Max-Alain Gradel (Sivasspor/Turquie), Gervinho (Parme/Italie), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace/Angleterre), Christian Kouamé (Fiorentina/Italie), Juma Saeed (Kuwat SC/Koweït), Lago Junior (Mallorca/Espagne), Jean Evrard Kouassi (Wuhan Zall/Chine).
