From our special correspondents in Abidjan – The beating suffered Monday by Ivory Coast at home against Equatorial Guinea (0-4) during the African Cup of Nations will leave its mark on Elephants supporters. “A shame,” they repeated to France 24 after the match, quite angry.
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It’s an evening that will go down in the history of Ivorian football. Monday January 22, while Ivory Coast was under pressure to reach the round of 16 of its African Cup of Nations at home, the Elephants fell from a height, corrected by a clinical Equatorial Guinea (0-4).
In the 75th minute, when Emilio Nsué scored the third goal of the game, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Orange fans began leaving the stadium by the thousands. For those who remained, it was no longer a question of encouraging the players but of whistling them every time they took the ball.
The match summaryHumiliated by Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast on waivers for the 8th
“Worse than shame”
“If you don’t want to wet your jersey for Ivory Coast, stay at home. It’s worse than shame!” shouts Mr. Gnabé as he leaves the stands.
“I don’t even know what to say to the players. One victory, two defeats. It’s humiliating. 3 to 0. I’d rather go home,” said Sostene.
The Elephants supporter will not see the fourth Equatorial Guinean goal, scored just before stoppage time by Jannick Buyla. The final whistle triggers chaos. Supporters start throwing objects onto the field while others try to invade the pitch. The police intervened and the players left the field under escort.
Gasset, target of anger
“What can we say after such a showdown,” said a cowardly, disgusted Ivorian supporter, Aboubakar.
Target of his ire, like many of his compatriots: the French coach Jean-Louis Gasset: “No one wanted it! What did he do with Bordeaux? Nothing! What did he do with PSG? Nothing!”
“There is no game background, no game system,” criticizes another. “Never again an African Cup at home! Not until we change everything!”
Ivory Coast is not yet mathematically eliminated. Third in her group with 3 points, she can hope to be among the four best third-place finishers drafted. But for the supporters, the essential is no longer there. Something is broken.
“Discouragement is not Ivorian”
Aboubakar ends up smiling at the situation. “Discouragement is not Ivorian,” said the computer scientist before grabbing a flag from the evening’s opponent: “This (Monday) evening, we must congratulate Equatorial Guinea! They gave a football lesson.”
He promises, however, that the stadiums will not be empty for the rest of the CAN: “We are not going to stop coming to the stadium! We are going to support our African brothers!”
It is, however, anger that mainly dominates. Scuffles broke out around the stadium, several sources confirmed to France 24, forcing the gendarmes to intervene. The Equatorial Guineans waited a long time for the situation to calm down before leaving the stadium by bus.
As for the Ivorian players, they remained prostrate for more than three hours in their locker room before leaving, without saying a word to the press. Only Bonaventure Kalou stopped to answer questions, speaking of a “nightmare evening for Ivorian football.” “There is still hope,” he wants to believe.
Hope in the form of good news at the end of the evening. At the end of a completely crazy outcome in Group B, Ghana, third, has only two points and is therefore behind the Ivorians in the game of the best third-placed draftees. Just waiting for another team ready to come out. But will the supporters come back?