Seko Fofana Announces International Retirement After AFCON Triumph

Seko Fofana has never hidden what that orange shirt means to him. Now, at 31, he has decided the story is over.

The Ivory Coast midfielder announced his international retirement with a heartfelt message to supporters, framing his exit around the moment that defined his career: lifting the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations trophy on home soil.

On his official Instagram account, Fofana wrote: “Dear Ivorian fans, the time has come for me to turn the page. It is with immense pride and deep gratitude that I had the privilege of fighting for my country. Winning the continent's greatest trophy was a childhood dream come true for me, and these memories will be forever etched in the hearts of millions of Ivorians.

“Thank you to my team-mates, the staff, and all of you for the strength and support. I will always remain the Elephants' number one supporter, and I cannot wait to see this new generation write its own history. There is no shortage of talent in our nation.”

A farewell wrapped in triumph, not regret. He walks away with the medal that mattered most.

Born in Paris, Fofana came through France’s youth ranks up to under-18 level before choosing the country of his heritage. Ivory Coast handed him his senior debut under Marc Wilmots, a decision that turned a promising European-based midfielder into a central figure for the Elephants.

His club journey has taken him through some of the game’s major corridors. From Manchester City's academy to Fulham, then on to the glare of the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, where he shared a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo. Each move hardened his game, sharpened his presence, and raised his profile back home.

Right now, he is on loan at FC Porto from Rennes, a key component in a side that secured the Portuguese league title last season. The engine in midfield, the player who drags his team up the pitch and sets the tone without needing the spotlight.

For Ivory Coast, though, his chapter is closed. The images of him celebrating that AFCON triumph in Abidjan will carry his legacy far longer than any stat line. The next generation now steps into the space he leaves behind, in a squad he insists is overflowing with talent.

He has turned the page. The question is what kind of story the Elephants will write without him.