Having come a long way to compete in the AFCON 2023 round of 16, Côte d’Ivoire is mobilizing like never before. Touted as the underdog against Senegal, the Ivorians are gearing up for a spectacle at the Yamoussoukro stadium to counter the Senegalese powerhouse.
The AFCON 2023 is gearing up to enter a crucial stage this Saturday: the round of 16. After the group stages, it’s now either victory or a return home for the 16 countries qualified for this phase. Starting this Saturday, we’ll witness a clash with the match between Nigeria and Cameroon. While this match remains one of the major duels of this edition due to the reputation of both countries on the African continent, it is less noisy than the match between Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal scheduled for next Monday.
Maneuvers underway in Côte d’Ivoire
Yes, enthusiasm is at its peak around this duel between the Elephant and the Lion, who know each other well in the jungle. Even though, in recent months, the Lion of Teranga has emerged as the king and thus a strong favorite for this match, which promises to be intense, the Elephant of Côte d’Ivoire, who suffered two setbacks during this AFCON 2023, wants to rise again. Back from a coma thanks to the Lion of the Atlas from Morocco, the Ivorians are doing everything possible to tame Senegal and its stars to continue the competition, which is generating unprecedented excitement.
Apart from the FIF led by Idriss Diallo, who attempted to bring back French coach Hervé Renard to take charge of the national team before these round of 16 matches, it’s the government that has decided to bring the players closer to the population. Indeed, this Thursday, the Ministry delegated to the Prime Minister, in charge of Sports and Living Environment, announces “creating a wave of solidarity around the national team.” And to achieve this, the Ivory Coast government is asking the population for “a 30-second video saying: I support, I have confidence in the Elephants,” as stated in a public release. All videos collected will be sent to Emerse Fae’s players.
Ivorian supporters comply
In this message, the government invites the Elephants’ supporters to create “an Orange wave at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Monday, January 29, 2024.” It must be said that the unprecedented mobilization of Côte d’Ivoire has indeed started this Friday after this government letter. In images relayed by Ivorian media, a human tide unfolded while it was still dark to secure tickets for this highly anticipated match during AFCON 2023. Is Senegal psychologically ready to face the host country as it has done so well since the beginning of the competition? That’s the question.
It must be said that the duel next Monday leans truly in favor of Aliou Cissé’s men, but against the host country, it’s the details that will matter. Côte d’Ivoire remains a good team with talented players who have not shown solidarity, especially against Equatorial Guinea.
Beware of Senegal
But with the change of coach, the general mobilization of the population, the surge of pride can be an asset that the Senegalese don’t have. The round of 16, like all knockout stages, is won no matter how. And since the beginning of this AFCON 2023, surprises have been constant.
Humiliated in the group stage, Côte d’Ivoire can become an unstoppable force with everything falling into place. In any case, there’s every reason to try everything on the Ivorian side, who no longer feel pressure after the qualification snatched by “luck.” Will Senegal manage to thwart all the plans of the host country of AFCON 2023, as the FFF did in Hervé Renard’s case this Thursday? We’ll wait and see.
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