Kolo Toure has confirmed his retirement from international football after helping Ivory Coast win the African Nations Cup earlier this month.
The 33-year-old centre-back made the disclosure barely after a week after his team won the 2015 Africa Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.
“It is with great emotion that I inform you that I am going to step back. It is a very difficult decision to take as I love my country and especially love football. But at some point, there comes a time to stop,” Kolo said on national TV RTI.
“I am going to introduce my successor at the heart of the defence to you. He is tough. This is Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba, the new boss of the defense. He is my successor,” he added.
The former Manchester City and Arsenal defender appeared at the 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015 Africa Cups of Nations.