Published on : 26/01/2022 – 06:41
Winner with authority of Algeria (3-1) in the first round, Côte d’Ivoire, who arrived with outsider status in this CAN 2022, can no longer hide. No offense to coach Patrick Beaumelle, his Elephants are favorites for the round of 16 against Egypt on Wednesday January 26, 2022 in Douala.
From our special correspondent in Douala,
Coach Patrice Beaumelle is a fine strategist, both on and off the pitch. Especially when it comes to answering journalists’ questions about the new status of its Ivorians, who fell with panache on the Algerian defending champions. ” The status of outsider suits me very well, suits us very well, he insists when it is pointed out to him that his label has changed. Let us be left alone for as long as possible. »
Beaumelle has certainly learned the lesson of the Algerians who had never hidden their ambitions at the start of this CAN. ” There are those who assumed, they had problems “, he could thus say. Still, it is now impossible for Côte d’Ivoire to advance masked on the eve of their round of 16 against Egypt, a team far from convincing in the first round. Despite their victories against Guinea-Bissau (1-0) and Sudan (1-0), the Pharaohs were not very imperial against their opponents. They, too, might reply: There are those who have been imperial, they have had problems speaking of Nigeria, three brilliant victories in the first round, fell ingloriously in the round of 16 against Tunisia (0-1).
For this 11th Côte d’Ivoire-Egypt in the African Cup, the formation of Beaumelle has the favor of the forecasts, but history urges caution when we realize that the Ivorians have beaten only once the Pharaohs at the CAN over ten confrontations.
« We come to the CAN to win it, warns in any case the striker of the Elephants, Sébastien Haller. A country like Côte d’Ivoire, with the manpower we have and what we are capable of doing, must believe that it can go all the way. »
No anti-Salah plan
Opposite, the record holders of CAN victories (7 titles) will count on their star Mohamed Salah to create a surprise. ” Against Ivory Coast, it won’t be easy, but our team is growing, it will be a very close match “Said the Liverpool player.
At the Elephants, the coach is already warning that there will be no plan to limit the influence of the Egyptian number 10. ” An anti-Salah plan would be disrespecting the other ten players. Each player has a specificity. Today, Mohamed Salah has a lot of experience. Offensively, obviously he attracts a lot of balls, but it’s a whole team that we will have to control when we lose the ball ».
