At 19, he already has the outspokenness and confidence of the greatest. Yan Diomandé, revelation at the start of the season in Leipzig and leader of the Ivory Coast attack during CAN 2025, delivered an unfiltered interview at the end of the week with the independent Ivorian media Actupeople.net.
Questioned the day after the Elephants’ stunning success against Gabon (3-2) on December 31, the twirling left winger displayed his ambitions – and those of his partners – for the rest of the competition. “Come, win the CAN and leave with the cup,” he delivered without concession. “We didn’t come to watch. We want to keep the cup. It’s my biggest dream to win the CAN at 19, few players have done it,” said the native of Abidjan.
“We didn’t come as extras”
“We said we came to win seven games,” added Diomandé. “Against Gabon, we knew that even if we lost the match, we were qualified but we came to win seven matches,” he recalled in reference to the match returned by Ivory Coast at the conclusion of the group stage despite being behind by two goals at the half-hour mark.
“The only thing that matters is winning seven games. We don’t give a damn who is in front of us, we want to win all seven games. We will give the best (of ourselves). We didn’t come as extras, we came to win. »
The course is set, it’s time to act now for the Elephants this Tuesday evening against Burkina Faso in the round of 16 to launch their knockout phase, with Diomandé already scoring in the first half.
