By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-22 04:04:06
Cote d’Ivoire coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, is feeling optimistic about his team’s chances of securing qualification for the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, noting that they have “destiny in our hands.” After suffering a defeat to Nigeria in their last match, the hosts currently sit in third place in Group A. While this position could still be enough to secure their progress as one of the four best third-place finishers, Gasset is determined to ensure their advancement by putting up a strong performance against Equatorial Guinea, the Group A leaders whom they face in Abidjan today. “Like all matches, we will attack to win. Today we are third, but we have our destiny in hand. We know that if we win, we will qualify,” Gasset stated during a press conference, expressing his confidence and emphasizing the importance of belief and support from their fans.
The return from injury of Borussia Dortmund striker, Sebastien Haller, and Brighton winger, Simon Adingra, has further bolstered Cote d’Ivoire’s chances against Equatorial Guinea. Gasset expressed his faith in the team’s recovery and the significance of having key players back in the squad, citing the positive impact of Haller and Adingra’s return. Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, requires just one point to secure their place in the last 16 after drawing against Nigeria and defeating Guinea-Bissau. Coach Juan Micha stressed that his team feels no pressure but emphasized the importance of their upcoming match, stating, “We are not yet qualified. We know that we have played two matches, we have four points, but it is not over.”
As both teams prepare for what promises to be a crucial showdown in Group A, the determination and confidence of Cote d’Ivoire and the resolute attitude of Equatorial Guinea set the stage for an exciting and closely contested encounter with qualification to the knockout stages at stake.
Read the original article on The Guardian
