With every victory of the Elephants, Ivorians residing in Morocco express their joy and share it with Moroccans. Now, they want the Cup to remain in Ivory Coast.
The Ivorian national team is the great miracle worker of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football tournament. During the group stage, the Elephants, then led by Jean-Louis Grasset (70 years old), almost exited the competition prematurely. Their crushing defeat against Equatorial Guinea with a heavy score of 0-4, coupled with their loss to Nigeria (0-1), caused general dismay in their country. But the miracle happened.
By defeating Zambia 1-0, the Lions of the Atlas saved the Elephants' skin. Two matches later, ironically, it was the Moroccans who exited the CAN through the back door, stopping at the quarter-finals. And on Sunday, February 11, it will be the Ivorians who will play the final against the Nigerians after accumulating surprising victories.
Led by Emerse Faé, a 40-year-old former international who served as assistant to Grasset, the Ivorians successively defeated the Lions of Teranga and the Eagles of Mali, top favorites of the CAN2023, before eliminating the Leopards of DR Congo. With their appetite whetted, all that remains is for them to devour the Super Eagles to clinch their 4th continental title.
On Sunday, the Elephants will be carried by their fans to create a new miracle. A moment eagerly awaited by all Ivorians in Ivory Coast and also in Morocco.
Thanking Morocco for its good luck, some of these Ivorians assure Pouvoirs d'Afrique that their Elephants will once again surprise.
Verdict on Sunday at 9:00 PM (GMT 1) with a new, more thrilling Ivory Coast - Nigeria face-off than ever before.
