AFCON 2015: Ex-Nigeria star Oliseh tips Ivory Coast to win title, warns against 'dangerous' Ghana
Former Nigeria skipper Sunday Oliseh has tipped Cote d’Ivoire as favourites to win Sunday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final, but warned Ghana’s chances can also not be dismissed.
It will be a dream final between two highly talented teams who have failed to be champions of Africa for a long time – Ghana last won the tournament 33 years ago and Cote d’Ivoire have not landed the trophy since 1992.
Oliseh, who won the Nations Cup in 1994 and was only denied a repeat by Cameroon in the 2000 final, said the Elephants will go into Sunday’s final in the port city of Bata as top dogs but must also be wary of an impressive Black Stars especially in a championship game.
“Cote d’Ivoire is clear favorite to win the final and if I didn’t know better I would tip them to be crowned Champions come final day. Finals are the most difficult to predict in soccer,” said Oliseh in an analysis he published on his personal website.
“Player for player Cote d'Ivoire have better individual players as Ghana and they are playing better as a team now especially when they are not in possession.
“A better regrouping defensively and a constant change of pace with bursts of speed forwards from the midfield that is so well complimented by Wilfried Bony’s strength and versatility in front is quite remarkable and worth taking into consideration by Ghana.”
However, the former Nigeria World Cup star said he has been equally impressed by Ghana at Equatorial Guinea 2015.
“Ghana are quite impressive and in (Christian) Atsu and the Ayew brothers (Andre and Jordan) are quite becoming unpredictable and champion material,” Oliseh rated.
“They go into this final as underdogs but with less pressure, unlike Cote d’Ivoire, due to the fact that not many would have bet on them coming this far when the tournament kicked off.
“Ghana’s key to victory depends on how they are able play compact and deny the Ivorian’s room, try to dictate the tempo of the game and their nerves.”
He predicted this final between Africa’s best two teams could well be decided by a mistake on the day.
“It is a final and near impossible to predict as Africa’s two best teams of the moment trade tackles. It is just one game of 90 minutes (plus a possible extra time of 30 minutes) and one lack of concentration from a free kick could just make the difference,” he forecast.
Readers Comment
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rogue assassin
9 years ago
And we Ghanaians don't even want you to tag us as favourite. That is the last thing we need from the so called connoisseurs of the game.
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rogue assassin
9 years ago
Favourite my foot. What didn't you say about Algeria before the competition?
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rogue assassin
9 years ago
What didn't the so-called connoisseurs say about Algeria before the competition?
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Amoration
9 years ago
Sister Oliseh even Boko Haram cannot help your super vultures to qualify yet you keep on braging brobrobro like Nana Akufo Addo. Ghanaians are now hardened by Dumsor Dumsor we will massacred your ivoireian elephants without mercy
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GBODO
9 years ago
WE DONT WANNA BE FAVOURITES,ALL WE WILL DO COME SUNDAY IS TO PLAY A COMPACT GAME,AND TAKE THE FEW CHANCES WE CREATE...OLISEH HAS NEVER SUPPORTED GHANA IN ANY COMPETITION,AM THEREFORE NOT SURPRISED BY HIS COMMENTS...AM SURE,HAD NIGERIA EVEN QUALIFIED AND WERE DUE TO IVORY COAST IN THE FINAL,HE WUD HAVE BACKED NIGERIA....WHAT MATTERS IN FOOTBALL IS,WHO WANTS IT MOST AND WORKS HARD FOR IT ON THE DAY
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BANGER
9 years ago
WELL SAID AMORATION. AM GLAD THEY UNDERATING US.THE FIELD WILL DO THE TALKIN CM SUNDAY.
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Muiz
9 years ago
Oliseh wat big name was ur super chikens hving wen u defeated Ivory Coast in d last eidition? We kno u're a Nigerian n we don't expect u to say any tin good abt d Black Stars of Africa.
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donjagidon
9 years ago
am a nigeria but let call a spade a spade. this is d end of road 4 cote d voire
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donjagidon
9 years ago
as am talking to u now d cup is in acara Ghana
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