Cote d’Ivoire will lock horns with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semifinals of the AfCON 2023 on Wednesday, February 7 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpé at 20h00 (GMT, local time).
Ahead of this crucial qualifier, Elephants coach Emerse Faé, accompanied by player Alain Max Gradel, answered questions from journalists at a pre-match news conference.
“In the last two games of the competition, we struggled to get our game going from the start. Against DR Congo, we’ll benefit from the confidence we’ve built up over the last few days.”
“We are in a good frame of mind,” Faé said.
”Now we have to use it to avoid bad starts. If we’re going to win the trophy, it’s going to be with the whole group of 27 players. There are some suspensions, but the spirit remains the same.
“The absentees won’t be there physically, but they’re with us. We’ve created a great atmosphere and perfect cohesion. There’s pressure, but it’s positive. Right now, we’re playing for a place in the final and we’re going to play our cards close to our chest.
“Apart from Adingra and Haller, we haven’t had any physical problems. Everything is going well, apart from the suspended players of course. But against DR Congo, it’s a different game,” he added.
The Elephants have “already played 120 minutes twice,” he noted, before adding that “it’s not easy, but we’re confident. As for me, I didn’t have the chance to win this AfCON with my country as a player and I hope to win it as a coach.
Cote d’Ivoire striker Max Alain Gradel echoed the Elephants coach’s praise for the group’s spirit. He praised the tireless mobilisation of the Ivorian people behind the team.
“We feel the people behind us. When you hear an entire nation, united, singing the national anthem when the team is behind and playing with ten men, it’s something extraordinary. I invite the fans to keep it up,” he said.
The countdown to the semi-finals begins on Wednesday, when Cote d’Ivoire take on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria’s Super Eagles face South Africa’s Bafana Bafana ahead of the final on Sunday.
Faé took over from Jean-Louis Gasset, who was sacked after the Elephants’ 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in the final group game.
He has been appointed interim coach and is clearly determined to make history with the national team.
AP/lb/as/APA