Under the guidance of Jean-Louis Gasset, the Côte d’Ivoire national team is preparing to kick off their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in a few weeks. In this article, we will share all the information you need to know about the Elephants.
Contents
- 1 CAN 2023: Côte d’Ivoire’s Team Schedule
- 2 Côte d’Ivoire’s Ranking in the CAN
- 3 The Last Ten Matches of the Côte d’Ivoire Team
- 4 Côte d’Ivoire: A Highly Anticipated Team
- 5 Côte d’Ivoire’s Head Coach: Jean-Louis Gasset
- 6 Côte d’Ivoire Team: Player to Watch – Seko Fofana
- 7 Côte d’Ivoire Team: Preparations for the CAN
- 8 Côte d’Ivoire Team’s Squad for the 2023 CAN
CAN 2023: Côte d’Ivoire’s Team Schedule
Côte d’Ivoire’s group A opponents in the tournament are Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Nigeria. The Elephants will play their three group stage matches at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Anyama, near Abidjan, their home ground.
- January 13, 9:00 PM: Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 Guinea-Bissau, Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Anyama.
- January 18, 6:00 PM: Côte d’Ivoire – Nigeria, Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Anyama.
- January 22, 6:00 PM: Equatorial Guinea – Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Anyama.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Ranking in the CAN
How did the Côte d’Ivoire team qualify for the 2023 CAN?
As the host country, Côte d’Ivoire was automatically qualified for the 2023 CAN. However, the Elephants still participated in the qualifying stages, finishing in second place in Group H with 13 points. Despite having the same number of points, Zambia secured the top spot based on direct match results.
- Matchday 1: Côte d’Ivoire-Zambia (2-1)
- Matchday 2: Lesotho-Côte d’Ivoire (0-0)
- Matchday 3: Côte d’Ivoire-Comoros (3-1)
- Matchday 4: Comoros-Côte d’Ivoire (0-2)
- Matchday 5: Zambia-Côte d’Ivoire (3-0)
- Matchday 6: Côte d’Ivoire-Lesotho (1-0)
The Last Ten Matches of the Côte d’Ivoire Team
- Gambia-Côte d’Ivoire (0-2) – 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
- Côte d’Ivoire-Seychelles (9-0) – 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
- Côte d’Ivoire-South Africa (1-1) – Friendly
- Côte d’Ivoire-Morocco (1-1) – Friendly
- Côte d’Ivoire-Lesotho (1-0) – 2023 CAN Qualifiers
- Zambia-Côte d’Ivoire (3-0) – 2023 CAN Qualifiers
- Comoros-Côte d’Ivoire (0-2) – 2023 CAN Qualifiers
- Côte d’Ivoire-Comoros (3-1) – 2023 CAN Qualifiers
- Burkina Faso-Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) – 2023 CAN Qualifiers
- Côte d’Ivoire-Burundi (4-0) – 2023 CAN Qualifiers
Côte d’Ivoire: A Highly Anticipated Team
As the host nation, the Ivorian national team will undoubtedly attract attention during the 2023 CAN. Although they did not participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and their performance has declined since winning the 2015 CAN (eliminated in the group stage in 2017, quarter-finalists in 2019, and round of 16 in 2021), the Elephants remain one of the strongest teams in African football. They have high-level players capable of proudly representing West Africa.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Head Coach: Jean-Louis Gasset
Jean-Louis Gasset, who recently turned seventy on December 9, has been leading the Ivorian national team since May 2022. The successor to Patrice Beaumelle, whose contract had expired, has maintained a respectable record so far: 9 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses. However, the Elephants still need to show more sharpness against stronger opponents (1-1 draws against Morocco and South Africa in friendly matches last October). As an experienced coach, even though this is his first time leading a national team, Gasset, a former assistant coach at Paris Saint-Germain (2001-2003 and 2013-2016), known for his ability to bring players together and establish close relationships, seems to be the right person to lead the Elephants as far as possible in this home tournament.
Image source: IconSport
Côte d’Ivoire Team: Player to Watch – Seko Fofana
Seko Fofana, the former captain of RC Lens in Ligue 1, now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League alongside Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo. He made his return to the Ivorian national team in October last year in a friendly match against Morocco (1-1). After being absent since September 2022, the 28-year-old midfielder delivered an impressive performance in his comeback for the Elephants’ midfield. Despite only having 12 international caps (5 goals) since his debut in 2017, the former RC Lens star, who scored twice in the last international break against Seychelles (9-0) and Gambia (0-2), is determined to finally establish himself in the Ivorian national team. He undoubtedly possesses talent and the desire to succeed (contrary to what some may say). Now, it’s time to prove it.
Image source: IconSport
Côte d’Ivoire Team: Preparations for the CAN
According to the Ivorian Football Federation, the gathering of the Elephants will begin on January 2, marking the official start of their training camp in San Pédro. The final squad will be announced on Wednesday, January 3. The team will have a chance to test their tactics and team dynamics in a final friendly match. However, the Mozambique team, which was initially expected to participate, has withdrawn, leaving the team in a difficult situation. The latest reports suggest that Sierra Leone might step in as a replacement for a friendly match scheduled for January 6. Later, the team will return to their base in Abidjan on January 7, 2024, where they will stay at the Maison Palmiers Hotel. This location will serve as the team’s headquarters for the rest of the preparation period, providing a conducive environment for final adjustments before the start of the CAN.