Appointed ambassador of the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football on June 30, Yaya Touré, assistant coach of Saudi Arabia, spoke to Forbes Afrique.
He took the opportunity to talk about the objectives and ambitions behind this appointment, as well as the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (CAN).
Winner of the 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations and four-time African Golden Ball winner, Yaya Touré is one of Côte d’Ivoire’s legends.
To thank him, Idriss Diallo, President of FIF, has decided to appoint him as an ambassador. It’s an honor for him to be with the younger players, helping them to overcome the pressure.
“It’s an honor and a sign of great consideration to be called by FIF to represent my country as an ambassador for the CAN 2024. It’s also an excellent opportunity to put my knowledge to good use and share my experience with younger players. (…) My role is to support the Elephants.
As a former captain of the national team, I fully understand the pressure the players may be under, and I’ll have to find the right words, while sharing my experience with them. (…)
As an ambassador, my mission will be to represent the values of excellence and hospitality that characterize Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.
If Yaya Touré has accepted this ambassadorial role, it’s because he wants to share values and participate in the development of soccer in Africa, especially in Côte d’Ivoire. First and foremost, however, he will be at the service of FIF and COCAN to ensure the success of the event.
“My ambition is based on several axes. Firstly, to capitalize on this role to catalyze the development of soccer in Africa in general and in Côte d’Ivoire in particular.
By sharing my experience, I’d like to inspire the new generation of sporting talent and help them reach their full potential.
Secondly, I’d like to help improve Côte d’Ivoire’s image on the international stage. As an ambassador, I will promote our country’s values of excellence and hospitality, and work closely with FIF and COCAN to ensure the success of this major event.
My ultimate aim is for this CAN to be not only a sporting success, but also a showcase for the possibilities and bright future of Côte d’Ivoire and African soccer”, he continued.
The former Ivorian international remains confident about the Elephants. He knows they will give their all to make the Ivorian game shine at this competition. He urges all Ivorians to remain united behind the national team.
“I have every confidence in the Elephants and coach Jean-Louis Gasset to make us proud. I’ll be by their side and advise them. They need all the support and encouragement they can get. Even if the fans can sometimes tie us down [be demanding] a bit, we’re counting on their unconditional support,” he said.
The FIF ambassador acknowledges that several resources have been invested to ensure that Africa and the world experience the CAN of hospitality. And COCAN will help to meet this challenge by organizing the finest competition ever staged.
“This tournament is a challenge, and the efforts made to rehabilitate infrastructure and build new stadiums clearly demonstrate the authorities’ commitment to making this the best competition ever. It’s really impressive to see the measures put in place to improve the development of the city of Abidjan. You can tell that President Amichia is pulling out all the stops to ensure an exceptional experience for all participants and visitors alike,” he reassures us.
Naturally, Côte d’Ivoire is one of the potential winners of the CAN. Yaya Touré also places Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Morocco among the nations who can win the tournament.
“It’s normal to have a preference for your own country. Côte d’Ivoire has a strong team and many talented and experienced players. But if I had to choose the teams I think are favourites, I’d say Senegal, Morocco, Guinea-Bissau and South Africa. They had an impressive qualifying campaign,” he concluded.
As a reminder, Gadji Céli, Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré were made FIF ambassadors by Idriss Diallo. This was on June 30, 2023, at the 61st Ordinary General Meeting of the national soccer body.
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