AFCON Watch: The Elephants hosting to win
It's another African Cup of Nations and every nation that host desires to win. However, only 8 countries have hosted and won and Cote D'Ivoire is not one of them. The West African giants hosted in 1984 for the first, but did not win as Cameroon emerge winners that year.
Well, this time it is expected to be a different ball game as the present crop of players want to change that narrative and add this trophy to the two titles the nation won in 1992 and 2015. Nigeriasoccernet.com takes a look at the host nation.
How strong is Cote D'Ivoire?
A nation that boast of past greats like Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Didier Zakora, Kolo Toure, Solomon Kalou etc, Cote D'Ivoire's present generation of players have what it takes to go all the way.
With the old war horse, Serge Aurier in the team, some form of stability is expected with him. In his fifth Nations Cup, Aurier will provide the defensive steel needed in the team.
Nicholas Pepe may not be in his best of form, but trust the former Arsenal man when in his element to be a force to be reckoned with.
A fit Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller will also be a threat hopefully he returns in time to galvanize the team to victory. Monaco defender Wilfried Singo is also available to be a great asset to the team.
Coach
Coach Jean-Louis Gasset, 70 who is coaching a national side for the first time, will seek to continue a fine run he has had with the Elephants after 20 months.
In fifteen matches, he has ten wins, three draws and two loses. The former Bordeaux and Montpelier coach will seek to win it for the host nation even though he says they are not title favourites in his recent interview.
"We just need to live with it," said Gasset, a former assistant to Laurent Blanc during his time as head coach at Paris Saint-Germain and then at the France national team.
"My job is to transform the pressure into something positive, to make sure that gives the players strength and confidence.
"I've been Cote d'Ivoire coach for 20 months now, and we've tried to do our best.
"But ultimately I haven't changed my mind. We know who the favourites are."
Cote D'Ivoire Squad
Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers/FRA), Charles Folly (Asec Mimosas), Badra Ali (Sekhukhune United/RSA)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split,/CRO), Ousmane Diomandé (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Ghislain Konan (Al-Feiha/KSA), Evans N’dicka (Roma/ITA), Odilon Kossonou Wilfried Singo (Monaco/FRA)
Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Amani Lazare (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor/TUR), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr/KSA), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli/KSA), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull/ENG).
Forwards:: Simon Adingra (Brighton/ENG), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo/ESP), Jérémie Boga (Nice/FRA), Sébastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Karim Konaté (RB Salzburg/AUT), Christian Kouamé (Fiorentina/ITA), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade/SRB), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep/TUR), Oumar Diakité (Reims/FRA), Nicolas Pépé (Trabzonspor/TUR).
The Ivory Coast are drawn in Group A alongside Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea and will play their first match against Guinea-Bissau on the 13th of January, 2024.
Uche Dozie
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