From Abidjan to the World Cup | OneFootball

There are moments that remain special even for professional footballers. For Yan Diomande, the 2026 World Cup will be one of them. When our exciting attacking talent pulls on the Ivory Coast shirt, his first thoughts will not be of huge stadiums or millions of viewers.

Instead, his mind will drift back to the dusty streets of Abidjan – to the place where it all began. “As a young kid, when I started playing football in my country, it was a dream for me to play in the World Cup, and today I’m making it happen,” Yan said. What once felt so far away is now reality. “I’m so excited to be there, to start playing.”

Diomande set to play RBL duo - and potentially Nusa too

Dio is ready for the big stage. With Ivory Coast, the pacey dribbler wants to test himself against the very best at the World Cup. “I want to face the biggest in the world: France, Brazil, Argentina.” Germany are not on his list there – even though they await in Group E. That also means a meeting with David Raum and Assan Ouédraogo.

Dio would also love to face another one of his RBL teammates in Antonio Nusa. “I want to face Norway also, because of Nusa,” the 19-year-old said with a laugh. For that to happen, both nations would need to reach at least the round of 32.

Les Éléphants full of energy

Ivory Coast will be out to show what they can do from the group stage onwards against Germany, Curaçao and Ecuador. “We have a lot of confidence and we want to go as far as possible,” Yan emphasised.

He knows that every game at a World Cup is a real test, but that is exactly what excites him. “We’re going there with good energy, and we’re going to fight in every game,” our attacking talent said. For Yan, the message is clear: “I’m doing everything for my country."

The sky is the limit

For the 19-year-old, the World Cup is also a sign of just how far hard work has already taken him. His journey has been steep and demanding, but his ambition remains as strong as ever. “I have more motivation to work hard because I can see what I can do, I can see my potential,” he explained.

Dio is not getting carried away by his young age or his rapid rise. His belief is clear: “Football is not about age, it’s about mentality and talent.” Those are exactly the qualities he now wants to show on the biggest stage in the game.

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