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This Saturday evening, at 9 p.m., the opening match of the African Cup of Nations will take place. Ivory Coast, host country of the competition, will host Guinea-Bissau.
Winners of the CAN in 1992 and 2015, the Elephants seem to have fallen back a little on the international scene. However, they are one of the four favorites for final victory, along with Morocco, Senegal and Algeria. “A CAN at home represents a lot, we are all aware of what awaits us, we have worked hard, declared Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié at a press conference. I would like to tell the Ivorian supporters that we are all fighting for the same flag, we must be united. Let them do their best to support us, we for our part will draw on our last resources to give the best and please them,” added the former FC Barcelona player, who has been playing for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia since the start of the season. “We will have to experience the event”specifies for his part the coach Jean-Louis Gasset. “My job is to transform this pressure into something positive, that it gives strength and confidence to my players. This must not inhibit us”. As for Guinea-Bissau, this is only its third participation in the continental competition.
⚽ Top start for the 34th edition of the #CAN !
Host country obliges, it is Ivory Coast🇨🇮 which opens the ball against Guinea-Bissau🇬🇼. In group A, we also find the #Nigeria🇳🇬, and Equatorial Guinea🇬🇶
➡️Elements of analysis with @MamruthRFI#can2024 pic.twitter.com/cTwG265bUC
— RFI (@RFI) January 13, 2024
The Ivorian government intends to organize “the most beautiful CAN” Of the history. 1.5 billion dollars were invested to build and renovate six stadiums, build bridges, roads, hotels… The organizers expect up to 1.5 million visitors for this event.
The probable compositions:
The Ivorian eleven: Fofana – Aurier, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan – Kessie, Fofana, Sangare – Krasso, Boga, Bamba.
The Bissaoguinean eleven: Mendes – Cande, Mane, Djalo – Mane, Semedo, Cassama, Rodrigues, Quizera – Gano, Baldé.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.