AFCON 2023: ‘It didn’t work’ – Cote D’Ivoire coach explains disappointing Nigeria loss

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Cote d’Ivoire head coach Jean Louis Gasset has opened up on reasons for his side’s loss to Nigeria.

William Troost Ekong’s second-half penalty silenced the huge Ivorian crowd at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, Ebimpe, Abidjan as the 1-0 loss to Nigeria put the Elephants in a dicey condition after two games.

The Super Eagles emerged victorious despite Cote D’Ivoire’s superior ball possession giving a cause for worry whether the Elephants don’t have another plan to be executed by the coach.

“It is not that we didn’t have Plan B against Nigeria but it didn’t work out,” Gasset told journalists during the pre-match press conference in preparation for the final Group A match with Equatorial Guinea.

“We had chances where we ought to have scored to change the tactics of Nigeria as they decided to be defensive.”

Cote D’Ivoire were on a four-game win streak before the 1-0 loss to Nigeria last week. They will face group leaders, Equatorial Guinea in need of a win to qualify for the knockout stage.

The Nazlang Nacional have a 12-match unbeaten run which the host has to snap to ensure their spot in the next round.

Failure to do the will leave them facing the eventuality of becoming the second host nation in the last 15 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be eliminated in the group stage.