The President of Côte d’Ivoire addresses the downfall of the national team in this 2023 AFCON. Alassane Ouattara, disappointed, doesn’t entirely lose hope.
Côte d’Ivoire suffered a four-nil defeat on Monday during the Africa Cup of Nations, triggering widespread anger in the country. After this outraged reaction, President Alassane Ouattara spoke a few hours ago.
The President of Côte d’Ivoire, disappointed but…
President Alassane Ouattara reacted this Tuesday, a few hours after the heavy defeat of the Ivorian national team against Equatorial Guinea, expressing his disappointment with Monday’s Elephants’ match. “We were disappointed by the Elephants’ match this Monday,” President Alassane Ouattara reacted a few hours after the heavy defeat of the Ivorian national team against Equatorial Guinea.
However, for the Head of State, it’s just a setback. According to him, Côte d’Ivoire has a young team that will progress over the years. He encourages Ivorians not to be discouraged. “As President Houphouët always told us, discouragement is not Ivorian. We have already won the AFCON twice, in 1992 and 2015. And I am sure we will win it a third time, very soon,” he asserts.
This is not the first time the Ivorian president has spoken in this AFCON 2023. As the national football team of Côte d’Ivoire was preparing for a crucial match on Monday, January 22, 2024, against Equatorial Guinea, their last group stage match of AFCON 2023, a delegation had been sent to the team. Struggling, the Elephants were then obligated to secure victory to hope for qualification to the round of 16.
The President of Côte d’Ivoire had nevertheless boosted his men
In order to boost the team’s morale and make them understand the national importance of this match (which probably put pressure on the group), high-level authorities had exchanges with the Elephants. The Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé; the President of the National Assembly, Adama Bictogo, and the Vice President of the Republic, Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, were present.
They reiterated President Alassane Ouattara’s message of support to the players and the entire staff. “I watched all your matches. You are strong! Free your minds. Put in all the energy needed to win. Believe in yourselves! You have our full confidence because we are convinced you will succeed,” said Tiémoko Meyliet Koné. In the presence of the authorities, the technical staff of the team had reassured. But alas, Jean-Louis Gasset and his men did not meet the challenge.
In Côte d’Ivoire, they no longer want the coach
Speaking of the French technician, he is increasingly contested in Ivory Coast. A petition demanding the immediate resignation of the coach was launched on Monday evening. It has already gathered more than 21,900 signatures, surpassing the expected 25,000.
The initiators of the petition, fervent supporters of Ivorian football, openly blame Jean-Louis Gasset for the national team’s difficult situation. According to them, the French technician failed to bring joy to the hearts of the Ivorian population, already burdened by economic difficulties. Indignation intensified following the disappointing performances of the Elephants, leaving the country on the brink of elimination in the qualification race.
However, the call for change does not stop at Jean-Louis Gasset’s resignation. The signatories also demand the head of the President of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), Idriss Diallo. They believe that the FIF, under Diallo’s leadership, has failed in its mission to manage and develop Ivorian football.
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