Frank Kessie upbeat ahead of AFCON opener

Deputy captain for the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire, Frank Kessie is upbeat ahead of his team’s opener against AFCON Guinea Bissau on Saturday.

The midfeilder was addressing Journalists at the palais de la culture on Friday, January 12th.

“The AFCON at home
represents a lot, we are all aware of what awaits us. We have worked hard, we have listened to the instructions of the coach and his staff. The team is in good spirit, and United. We are all going together in the same direction. We have the same goal: to raise the country’s flag very high”. Kessie said

Having left Football Club Barcelona to Saudi, due to lack of game time, Kessie now plays for Al Ahli.

” We are all ready to live this great experience of playing the AFCON at home. Personally I feel good on the eve of this competition.”

Frank Kessie is yet to regain top form and some ivorians have subjected the former Milan man to some criticisms.

Responding to the question of personal criticism, Kessie looked untouched.

“If the subject of criticism is logical, It is only normal, as am one of the team’s long time servants. I take it positively.”

Kessie on his life in Saudi Arabia

“I changed continents, climates, that’s what football is all about, and I’m going to write my story on another continent.

“There are quite a few players with whom we interact during the AFCON like Edouard Mendy and Riyad Mahrez, my club teammates, but here we are in the national team and we are all focused on our goal.”

27-year-old Frank Kessie has called upon Ivorians to support the Elephants, 40 years after they hosted the first edition of the tournament in 1984.

“I would like to say to the Ivorian supporters all in the same logic, that we are fighting for the same flag, we must be united as one man.

“The public must be our twelfth player on the field. We hope they will do their best to support us. On our part, we will draw our last resources to give the best and please them.

Kessie has scored 6 and dished out 2 assists in 19 appearances this season.

The opening game will be played at the Olympic stadium of Ebimpé,
20:00 local time.