Ivory Coast is preparing for a crucial quarter-final clash against Mali this Saturday in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), presenting both challenges and opportunities for the team.
According to former Ivory Coast international Salomon Kalou, the team is on the brink of a promising run in the tournament after parting ways with their coach following a lackluster start.
As the Ivorian squad gears up to face Mali at 5 p.m. GMT, Kalou, a respected figure in Ivorian football, stressed that the team can no longer use managerial issues as an excuse.
The departure of the coach, reportedly due to the team’s poor initial performance, has placed the players in a new reality where they must chart their path forward without familiar guidance.
Ivory Coast’s journey to the quarter-finals was marked by a challenging match against the reigning champions, Senegal.
“They defeated the previous champions, Senegal, which shows that we have a great chance of going far. I always say that when the team is not performing well, it’s the coach’s fault. Now, we don’t have that excuse anymore as the coach is gone,” Kalou said.
“The new coach and the players have to show that they can react as they did against Senegal. They showed great character, coming back when nobody expected them to win the game after conceding an early goal. They need to continue like this,” he added.
