Ivory Coast, which won the CAN final at home against Nigeria on Sunday, owes its success to the awakening of its players. Among them, attackers Max-Alain Gradel and Simon Adingra played their part perfectly. One has been a veteran of the Elephants for years and knew how to share his experience. The other is a young talent who revealed himself to the Ivorians during the competition. Crossed portraits.
Published on: 02/13/2024 – 3:27 p.m.
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At the crossroads. At 36 years old and 22 years old, Max-Alain Gradel and Simon Adingra are not from the same generation, but they wore the same jersey successfully during CAN 2024. The two attackers contributed, each in their own way, to the third coronation of Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations.
The one who has been nicknamed “Mad Max” in the past made his experience speak during the competition, where Simon Adingra made his contribution, notably with his speed and his percussion. But like the rest of the Elephants, both got into tune and showed a rock-solid spirit during the knockout matches.
“With the mentality, we were able to come together, catch up and be African champions,” explained Simon Adingra after the final against Nigeria, during which he was elected man of the match. “We knew that we could score at any time, so we shouldn’t panic, we had to continue what we were doing well,” summarized Max-Alain Gradel in the mixed zone. “And we managed to score the two goals we needed to win this match.”
“Since their return, things are moving ahead”
This steely mentality, the captain and the young talent demonstrated it from the start of the competition. Simon Adingra was called up to play in the CAN despite his injury contracted at his club (Brighton) shortly before the start of the competition, which caused him to miss the first matches. Max-Alain Gradel, meanwhile, was relegated to the bench during the group stage – a choice by former Elephants coach Jean-Louis Gasset.
The two attackers were patient before setting foot on the Ivorian pitch. First a few minutes at the end of the match during the humiliation of Ivory Coast against Equatorial Guinea (4-0). Then they benefited from the support of the new coach of the Elephants, Emerse Faé, to win in the starting eleven from the round of 16.
Read alsoCAN 2024: Emerse Faé, “the man on the ground” who led Ivory Coast to success
And the two attackers lived up to the trust placed in them by their new coach. Simon Adingra has established himself as a winger capable of destabilizing opposing defenses several times per match with his formidable acceleration. Before he shines in the spotlight in the quarter-finals against Mali: Côte d’Ivoire then loses 1-0 and is playing outnumbered when he emerges to score the equalizing goal in the last minute of play (1-1, final score 2-1).
Before Sunday’s final, Emerse Faé was full of praise for the young prodigy: “The absence of Haller and Adingra was felt during the group stage. Since their return, things have been moving ahead. We are happy with their contribution.” Simon Adingra not only met expectations, but he also shone in the CAN final: two assists, six key passes and five successful dribbles out of nine attempted.
Max-Alain Gradel also experienced a month which crescendoed during the African Cup. Starting in the round of 16, he was also given the captain’s armband by his coach, a sign of the importance given to him within the Ivorian locker room.
Read alsoGradel, Seri, Fofana, Haller, Ndicka: the five key Ivorian players of CAN 2024
Before facing the DR Congo in the semi-final, the main interested party spoke of a “special CAN” that “the enthusiasm and the scenarios make it very special.” And added: “There was also a change of staff, so we had to immediately implement the ideas that the coach had.” And the captain took his responsibilities against the Leopards, delivering an assist to Sébastien Haller for the only goal of the match (1-0).
Meteorological rise and “twice African champion”
Although they do not have the same profile on the field, the two wingers were able to bring their offensive qualities to allow Côte d’Ivoire to rise to the top of African football.
Simon Adingra was named best youngster and won the first CAN of his career. A meteoric rise for the man who made his first selection with Ivory Coast… less than a year ago, on June 17, 2023. “Before coming to the tournament, I was a beginner player,” declared the ‘interested.
Also read CAN 2024: best player, scorer, coach… who are the big winners?
After this competition, the winger has two goals and two assists in ten games played with the Elephants. And his emergence under the orange jersey was duly recognized by the Ivorian people: he was one of the most applauded players, Monday February 12, during the triumphant parade of players in Abidjan.
Max-Alain Gradel, for his part, won the second African Cup of Nations of his international career. After the triumph of 2015, the winger was able to show this year that he was not about to join the cemetery of the Elephants. “It’s crazy, it’s magnificent, it’s incredible,” he rejoiced after the final, before joking: “Two times African champion, that’s my name from now on! important to emphasize.”
From there to retiring internationally after the competition? “If this is my last CAN? Let me savor this. You’re already looking for me there!”, Max-Alain Gradel concluded with a laugh. “We’ll have time to think. I am someone who doesn’t like to make decisions on the fly. We’ll see what needs to be done in the future.”
