* Three appearances; three eliminations in the first round. Côte d’Ivoire has been carrying this record like a collective wound since 2006
* Which neither the Didier Drogba generation, nor that of Yaya Touré, nor the talent of Max-Alain Gradel managed to get past this stage
Maravi Express
Tonight in Philadelphia, Côte d’Ivoire face Curaçao with a clear mission — not losing is enough to secure the first qualification in their history for the World Cup™ knockout stages.
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Three appearances; three eliminations in the first round. Côte d’Ivoire has been carrying this record like a collective wound since 2006, which neither the Didier Drogba generation, nor that of Yaya Touré, nor the talent of Max-Alain Gradel managed to get past this stage.
In 2014, it was a Greek penalty, at the last second, that shattered the dream. Tonight, against a Curaçao team playing its first World Cup, a new story can begin.
A draw is enough for the Elephants to finish second behind Germany. In the event of a loss, they would still have a chance to qualify among the best third-placed teams.
Since the start of the tournament, the Ivorians have shown real cohesion. Even the loss against Germany in Toronto did not diminish their ambition; on the contrary, it revealed it.
Coach Émerse Faé has not hesitated to rotate his squad, confirming that the group mentality he advocates daily is more than just a slogan.
Émerse Faé
Now it is Fofana, Kessié, Inao, and a young, uninhibited attacking line who carry the long-awaited promise of accomplishment.
Ange-Yoan Bonny, still searching for his first national-team goal, immediately set the scene: “We feel good, we feel lucky because we’re close to doing something historic. We can’t wait to start playing this match.”
Elye Wahi, also part of this new attacking wave, delivered the same message with determination: “We’re here to make history. We know this will be a crucial match for Ivorian football and we’ll give ourselves every chance to earn qualification.”
Evan Guessand, for his part, refuses to use the word pressure. It’s an admitted sense of excitement that dominates for the former Nice striker. “We’re close to history. With this group, I think we can surpass what those before us achieved. We’re just excited and motivated.”
Coach Faé is the man who experienced it from the inside and in this context, his figure is central. He himself played in a World Cup as a player, falling at the same stage.
Tonight, he has the chance to break this curse from the bench. His players trust him, and not only for his track record: “He’s a coach who’s close to his players and communicates a lot,” says Wahi.
“For young players like us, that’s very important. He often says the players on the bench are good enough to be starters. It gives him a headache, but that’s what a coach wants.”—Reporting by Sports News Africa; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Czech Republic 1-2 South Africa
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
South Africa 1-0 South Korea
Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Switzerland 2-1 Canada
Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
USA 2-1 Australia
Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curaçao
Germany 2-1 Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Tunisia 0-4 Japan
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
Group G
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Beligium 0-0
New Zealand 1-3
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde
Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
Group I
France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Norway 3-2 Senegal
France 3-0 Iraq
Group J
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Argentina 2-0 Austria
Jordan 1-2 Tunisia
Group K
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
Colombia 1-0 DR Congo
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia
Ghana 1-0 Panama
England 0-0 Ghana
Panama 0-1 Croatia
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