1.5 million visitors expected, and a whole country behind Côte d’Ivoire. The Elephants will face the biggest challenge in their history by trying to win a first CAN at home. After two coronations in the competition (1992, 2015), Ivory Coast will have to do better than its first tournament organized on its land. 40 years ago, in 1984, the Elephants were eliminated from “their” competition in the first round. This time, the objective is completely different!
The anecdote
“The best CAN in history”. To sit at the top of the African continent, the government of Alassane Ouattara has made colossal investments to modernize the country and its infrastructure. More than 500 billion CFA francs (around 760 million euros) have notably been committed to four state-of-the-art stadiums and 24 new training grounds. On September 12, an impressive storm flooded the lawn of the Ebimpé Olympic stadium, a new 60,000-seat venue. A disaster, symbol of the country’s preparation difficulties which had led to a reshuffle within the squad taking with it the Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, and the Minister of Sports, Paulin Danho.
Shape of Ivory Coast
Quarter-finalist in the last African Cup of Nations, absent from the 2022 World Cup… Ivory Coast lacks benchmarks at the highest level before starting its CAN at home. The Elephants can still rest on a series of 6 matches without defeat (3 wins, 3 draws) with only two goals conceded, thanks in particular to an iron defense led by the Romain passed by AJ Auxerre Evan Ndicka. With Guinea-Bissau to open the tournament before facing Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, Jean-Louis Gasset’s men remain favorites to get out of their group. But watch out for the hiccup in the event of a miss in the opening match, the shock against the Eagles could already be decisive.
The Ivory Coast match schedule
The list
Guardians: Yahia Fofana, Badra Ali, Ayayi Folly
Defenders: Willy Boly, Chester Diallo, Ousmane Diomandé, Odilon Kossounou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Serge Aurier, Wilfried Singo
Midfielders: Ibrahim Sangare, Doumbia Idrissa, Franck Kessie, Jean Michael Seri, Seko Fofana and Lazare Amani
Forwards: Sébastien Haller, Karim Konaté, Jean-Philippe Krasso, Max-Alain Gradel, Christian Kouamé, Jonathan Bamba, Oumar Diakité, Jérémie Boga, Nicolas Pepe, Simon Adingra
The player to watch: Sébastien Haller
Sebastien Haller is delighted in the Ivory Coast jersey. PA Images / Icon Sport
Sébastien Haller and the Ivory Coast are a roller coaster story. The one who opted late for the Elephants, in 2020, at the age of 26, took time to find his place, before having to treat testicular cancer at the best of his club career (upon his arrival in Dortmund) and in the selection . Returned as a starter at the forefront of the attack, the number 22 is capable of collecting goals (1 in each of his last three appearances for the selection) as well as remaining silent when his national team slips. This CAN could be his first real success in the Elephants jersey.
