Côte d’Ivoire have certainly sent shockwaves along the international football stage as they travel to South Africa for their second appearance in a World Cup. Looking as the strongest African nation in this year’s tournament, the Ivory Coast will be planning to better their 2006 World Cup campaign where they did not make it past the group stage.
Côte d’Ivoire have certainly sent shockwaves along the international football stage as they travel to South Africa for their second appearance in a World Cup.
On their road to South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire cemented their position as one of the top guns in African football as they qualified with ease not losing a single match in their campaign. With the side a little more experienced on the international scene than four years ago, the Ivory Coast could certainly provide a tournament upset – although would have to work their way through one of the toughest Group draws to make an impact.
Côte d’Ivoire have drawn Group G, which means they are in with the heavily backed South Americans Brazil, and other front runners Portugal, while North Korea make up the group. Realistically Côte d’Ivoire are playing for the second spot to qualify, which even in itself will be tough for the West Africans, as Portugal are also heading to South Africa with a strong and confident side. If they do manage to progress past the group stage, another tough challenge awaits as they will most likely face the Spanish powerhouse, or perhaps Chile which is another tricky challenge.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Group G Schedule
No. |
Date |
Match |
Location |
Kick-Off (Local) |
Kick-Off (AEST) |
| 13 | 15.06.10 | Côte d’Ivoire V Portugal | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 16.00 | 00.00 (16.06.10) |
| 29 | 20.06.10 | Brazil V Côte d’Ivoire | Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg | 20.30 | 04.30 (21.06.10) |
| 46 | 25.06.10 | Korea DPR V Côte d’Ivoire | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | 16.00 | 00.00 (26.06.10) |
KEY PLAYERS:
DIDIER DROGBA (CAPTAIN)
Born: 11.03.1978 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.89 metres
Position: Forward
Club: Chelsea FC, English Premier League
International Debut: Vs South Africa (08.09.2002)
Didier Drogba is arguably the best football player to come out of the African continent, and has been skipper of the Ivory Coast since 2006 when he led his national side to their debut appearance in a World Cup, and scored the first Ivory Coast World Cup goal. He is coming into the 2010 World Cup off the back of some of the best football of his life, where he claimed his second Golden Boot with 29 goals to his name, and has twice been named the African Footballer of the Year (2006 & 2009) – however concerns are growing over Drogba’s fitness for the tournament as he fractured his elbow in early June.
DIDIER ZOKORA
Born: 14.12.1980 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.80 metres
Position: Midfield
Club: Sevilla, La Liga
Didier Zokora has been a part of the Côte d’Ivoire national team since 2000, and the past decade has seen the tactical midfielder take the West African nation to two consecutive world cup tournaments, having never qualified previously. After his performance for the Ivory Coast in the 2006 World Cup, with his obvious natural talent and game turning ability, the top sides in England were all desperate to get him on the books, and as one of the more experienced players in the squad will be one the youngsters look to for inspiration on the ball.
KOLO TOURE
Born: 19.03.1981 in Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire
Height: 1.83 metres
Position: Defender
Club: Manchester City, English Premier League
International Debut: Vs Rwanda (04.2000)
Kolo Toure has been a regular for Côte d’Ivoire since 2000 and was a massive part of the side which made it to the 2006 World Cup finals. The defender also played in all five games of the African Cup of Nations in early 2006, where the Ivory Coast side finished second to Egypt. His international partnership with Emmanuel Eboue is one of the strongest defences in Africa, and the duo will certainly hope it means they can perform against the big guns such as Brazil and Portugal.
CÔTE D’IVOIRE SQUAD
Position |
Name |
| Coach | Sven-Goran ERIKSSON |
| Goalkeepers | Boubacar BARRY |
| Daniel YEBOAH | |
| Aristide Zogbo | |
| Defenders | Brou ANGOUA |
| Souleymane BAMBA | |
| Arthur BOKA | |
| Guy DEMEL | |
| Emmanuel EBOUE | |
| Steve GOHOURI | |
| Siaka TIENE | |
| Kolo TOURE | |
| Midfielders | Jean Jacques GOSSO |
| Emmanuel KONE | |
| ROMARIC | |
| Ismael TIOTE | |
| Yaya TOURE | |
| Dider ZOKORA | |
| Forwards | Aruna DINDANE |
| Seydou DOUMBIA | |
| Didier DROGBA | |
| GERVINHO | |
| Salomon KALOU | |
| Kader KEITA |
