Named in Ivory Coast’s squad for friendly matches against Togo and Moldavia on March 24 and 27, Yaya Toure did not show up at the Elephants’ camp in France, according to interim coach Kamara Ibrahim.
Kamara said they had no contact with the Manchester City midfielder who announced his return from international retirement in December 2017.
On Thursday, Toure took to Twitter to give reasons for his absence which many back home consider as a blow to the national team.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to take part in Ivory Coast matches during the Fifa break,” Toure said.
“My Family needs me at this time and I hope the supporters will understand. I wish the entire team all the best.”
ACLsports contacted the Ivorian FA, who said Toure never wrote to say he wasn’t coming that the body only saw his post on Twitter.
The Elephants technical staff was hoping to restructure the outfit around the 34-year-old former Barcelona player, who captained the team to victory at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
Ivory Coast failed to qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup which led to the dismissal of Belgian coach Marc Wilmots