Max-Alain Gradel, Jean-Michaël Seri, Seko Fofana, Sébastien Haller and Evan Ndicka: here, among others, are the names of the players who carried Côte d’Ivoire from miracle to miracle until its victory against Nigeria ( 2-1), Sunday, in the final of the African Cup of Nations.
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Getting off to a bad start after a group stage of the CAN 2024 where it came close to elimination, Côte d’Ivoire turned the tide from match to match from the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations until win in the final against Nigeria (2-1), Sunday February 11, in Abidjan.
This miraculous journey of the Elephants in the competition was also possible thanks to several players who assumed, throughout the matches, their status as team executives to lead the host country to its third coronation on the African continent. Review of the Ivorian forces which have shone in recent weeks.
Read alsoIvory Coast wins its CAN by overthrowing Nigeria in the final
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Max-Alain Gradel, “the captain”
At 36, Max-Alain Gradel has awakened the Ivory Coast and shared his experience to take his people to the top. “He’s the boss”, summarizes Patrice Beaumelle to AFP.
The Ivorian striker played a leading role in the resurrection of his team, as the former Ivory Coast coach (2020-2022) explains: “He helps balance the team in a job collective, he knows how to keep the ball, he is reliable, a hard worker and always thinking of the team before himself.”
The only player already an African champion in the squad with Serge Aurier, in 2015, the entry on the scene of the framework with 107 caps (17 goals) sounded the awakening of the Elephants. Max-Alain Gradel notably distinguished himself against DR Congo by delivering the decisive pass for Sébastien Haller which allowed Côte d’Ivoire to qualify for the CAN final.
Read alsoKings of Africa, the Ivorians thank Morocco and promise celebration until the next CAN
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Jean-Michaël Seri, “the metronome”
The 2017 Marc-Vivien Foé prize is the other element of experience incorporated by the new Ivorian coach Emerse Faé. A tactical choice that paid off, while Jean-Louis Gasset – removed from the Elephants bench after the humiliation against Equatorial Guinea (4-0) – had not used it during the first matches of the African Cup.
At 32, Jean-Michaël Seri brought Côte d’Ivoire back to his level, a man in the shadows of the midfield whose sense of the game worked wonders, particularly against Senegal (1-1, tab 5-4 ) in the round of 16.
For Patrice Beaumelle, “Seri is the sentinel, the metronome, the one who sets the tempo of the Elephants”.
The Ivorian midfielder accomplishes “the work of the shadows. You have (Ibrahim) Sangaré, (Franck) Kessié, Seko (Fofana) who are more in the volume, when you are a simple spectator you only see them. Jean-Michaël Seri is the one who will balance the team, a bit like Makelele during the Zidane era,” adds the former coach.
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Seko Fofana, energy to spare
In addition to Ibrahim Sangaré, Franck Kessié and Jean-Michaël Séri, Seko Fofana brought a lot to Ivory Coast during this CAN with his crazy races, his inexhaustible activity and his powerful strikes that were often on target.
The midfielder scored the first goal of the competition in the opening match against Guinea-Bissau (2-0). Then, like his team, he gradually sank in the group stage against Nigeria (1-0 defeat) and especially against Equatorial Guinea (4-0 defeat).
Caught by the criticism, Seko Fofana woke up like all the Elephants in the knockout phase: he was notably decisive against Mali (2-1) in the quarter-finals, where two of his strikes led to the goals of Simon Adingra at the very end of regulation time (90th) and that of Oumar Diakité at the end of extra time (120th+2).
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Sébastien Haller, injured then providential scorer
Sébastien Haller, the team’s most anticipated star, arrived with an ankle injury at the start of the African Cup of Nations and was unable to play in the first round.
The Borussia Dortmund striker was going through an ordeal. Treated for testicular cancer, he remained scoreless for half a season with the Ruhr club, except in the German Cup against an amateur club. “The last year has been quite difficult for me and for my family,” he said.
But he gradually established himself as the essential attacker for the Elephants in the home stretch of the competition. Sébastien Haller scored the equalizer against Senegal (1-1, tab 5-4), then weighed in against Mali while his team were outnumbered. Then he was decisive in the last four, scoring the only goal in the semi-final against DR Congo (1-0) and especially the title goal in the final against Nigeria.
Read alsoCAN 2024: Sébastien Haller, hero of Ivory Coast and symbol of resilience
The only Ivorian player who played every minute with goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, Evan Ndicka was the boss of the Ivorian defense during CAN 2024.
Last come, first served. Elephant only since September, the former French youth selection has established himself as an essential defender in the Elephants’ back line.
Trained in Auxerre and hardened at Eintracht Frankfurt, Evan Ndicka is now learning Italian tactics at AS Roma. At 24, the young African champion has a bright future ahead of him.
With AFP
