AFCON 2021: Cote D’Ivoire Rehearses Prior To 2023

Being one of few sides others will aim at with blitz, the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire have enough artillery to show glitz, and possibly win the AFCON 2021 in the land of their sour – rivals Cameroon, come January, before hosting the next edition in 2023.

Cote D’Ivoire, a country located on the south coast of West Africa, with a population of about 26. 38 million inhabitants, as gotten in 2020, will be headed to Cameroon for their 24th AFCON finals, out of 33 editions.

Tournament Bio

Cote D’Ivoire have been almost natural contenders since the Africa Cup of Nations took baby steps in the late 50s. The Elephants made their debut in the competition back in 1965, in the tournament finals hosted by Tunisia.

With joined top – scorer
Eustache Manglé, spearing the front line, the Elephants surpassed round 1 after a win against Congo and a defeat to Ghana – in the three – team group. Cote D’Ivoire then leapfrogged Senegal (0-1) in the third place, to seal a third place finish. The 1968 AFCON was more of a mirror to what had obtained in the 1965 edition. The African giants qualified as runners-up in group B, behind hosts Ethiopia. The Elephants bowed to Ethiopia via a one – nil scoreline, after they had a thorough beating of Algeria (3-0), before they resuscitated to defeat Uganda (2-1).

Winners of group B – Ghana, defeated Cote D’Ivoire in the knockout rounds, albeit the lottery of penalties, then Cote D’Ivoire took their revenge on Ethiopia, defeating them to the third place.

A somewhat sketchy spell from 1970-1978 could be used to a describe the county’s deep from their usual standards. First, in 1970, Cote D’Ivoire made a backwards glide by ending fourth. They started the tournament that was hosted by Sudan, in fine fertile. However, after defeating Sudan to top group A, Cote D’Ivoire lost on post – match penalties against the Black Stars of Ghana, before losing again to then United Arab Republic, now, known as Egypt.

Three group stage finishes in 1974, 1980, 1984, intertwined – with a banned spell in 1978, and her inability to qualify in 1976, plus in 1982, when the team didn’t enter the qualifiers phase, watered down the profile of Cote D’Ivoire.

Cote D’Ivoire was back from the shackles in 1986, making the medal table once more. The team won bronze after having ended second behind Egypt in group A, defeating Mozambique and Senegal – in the process. Cameroon legend, Albert Roger Milla however squashed the euphoria of Cote D’Ivoire fans in the semis, but the side showed great character, defeating North African side Morocco (3-2), to finish third in the tournament.

Frustrating group stage finishes once more from 1988 – 1990 seemingly helped prepare the Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire for their first continental crown in 1992. Led by coach Yeo Martial, Eugene Beugre and co won group C, before slightly edging Zambia, Cameroon and Nigeria for the crown.

The team registered her 2nd fourth tournament finish in 1994, and were beaten finalists against a star stuffed Egyptian side in 2006, ending their tourney as runners-up.

23 years after their first win of the tournament, it was Yaya Toure’s turn to lead the team to glory, in Equatorial Guinea, in 2015.

It was a good sight to behold for the neutral, seeing what many tagged a golden and ageing generation, finally laying hands on the trophy for the country’s second time, with prolly Drogba’s absence, the biggest regret.

The succeeding AFCON tournament in 2017 saw Cote D’Ivoire ending their race at the group phase. With a new system and addition of teams in 2019, Cote D’Ivoire could only end amid the last 8 of the competition.

Road To The AFCON 2021

Cote D’Ivoire had a near perfect qualifiers campaign, picking up four wins, one draw and a defeat, on their way to the top of group K. Cote D’Ivoire eventually ended the campaign with 13 points, 4 ahead of second on the log, Ethiopia.

Complete results;

Cote D’Ivoire 1-0 Niger
Ethiopia 2-1 Cote D’Ivoire
Cote D’Ivoire 2-1 Madagascar
Madagascar 1-1 Cote D’Ivoire
Niger 0-3 Cote D’Ivoire
Cote D’Ivoire 3-1 Ethiopia

Coach

Two – time AFCON winners – Cote D’Ivoire, have opted to go to the AFCON with Patrice Baumelle, equally known as Herve Renard’s
psychic, since 2020.

In 2010, the 43 year old was an assistant to Renard for the Angola national team.

Beaumelle also had previously been the assistant manager to Renard at the Zambian national team from 2011. After Renard left his post in 2013 to take charge of FC Sochaux, Beaumelle was appointed as his successor. Following Herve Renard’s appointment as manager of the Ivory Coast on 31 July 2014, Beaumelle handed in his resignation to the Football Association of Zambia, and joined Ivory Coast as Renard’s assistant.

In November 2021, Patrice Beaumelle was reappointed at the head of the Ivorian football selection.

Patrice Baumelle likes enterprising football, and it is no surprise that the gaffer likes when his team dominates play with cute little passes, and momentarily explode from the wings, with a crop of Cote D’Ivoire players, who best suit the latter’s system.

Players to watch

Ibrahim Sangare

PSV midfeilder metronome Ibrahim Sangare is highly rated. The 24-year-old is one of the finest box-to-box midfeilders in the Netherlands, and has just that little piece of magic for the special occasions. He will look to give Baumelle a good selection headache, especially as the midfeild seems saturated, with the likes of: Frank Kessie and Jean Seri.

Serge Aurier

Skipper and right back Serge Aurier is known World wide for his bumping up and down the right flank, putting in sumptuous crosses for strikers to feed on.

Frank Kessie

Highly solicited by PSG, AC Milan affiliate – Frank Kessie – is unarguably one of the best holding midfeilders out there. Kessie scored twice as Cote D’Ivoire booked their place to the AFCON. His goals came against Madagascar and Ethiopia.

Sebastian Haller

Erstwhile Hammer and now Ajax Amsterdam goal machine, Sebastian Haller, has had a season like no other. The forward is on 10 goals and counting, in the UCL this season. He will be of great importance, if Cote D’Ivoire aim at claiming a third crown.

Wing connection: Maxwell Cornet, Nicolas Pepe, Wilfred Zaha and Evrard Kouasi

All players of same abilities but unique skills, the four aforementioned players are extremely quick, and could break with the speed of light on counters. Though Zaha came under huge stick for excusing himself from the final bend of the World Cup qualifiers, Baumelle could still need the winger. Pepe hasn’t really dazzled but he is that kind of player, isn’t he? He can pull the rabbit out of the hart, momentarily. Same could be said for Cornet and Kouasi.

Amad Diallo is another youngster in the roster, but it will be difficult seeing the Manchester United starlet getting into the roster, with all the queue of stars.

Cote D’Ivoire open their campaign on January 12 against Equatorial Guinea in group E. Games against Sierra Leone and Algeria follow on January 16 and 20, respectively.