AFCON 2023: Nigeria is a ‘Dangerous’ Opponent – Salomon Kalou Issues Warning To Ivory Coast

In anticipation of the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), former Ivory Coast ahead Salomon Kalou has sounded a cautionary observe, advising the Elephants to method their Group A opponents with specific wariness, notably highlighting the Tremendous Eagles as a formidable and harmful facet.

Learn Additionally: Dannaz Girls Chairman Lauds Crew’s Perception, Bounce Again After Victory Towards Royal Queens

Ivory Coast, set to host the distinguished AFCON match, finds themselves drawn into Group A alongside Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

Because the Elephants attempt to emulate Egypt’s 2006 achievement of reaching the ultimate because the host nation, the competitors is poised to be intense.

Jean-Louis Gasset’s Ivory Coast facet, two-time AFCON champions in 1992 and 2015, will face robust competitors from the Tremendous Eagles, three-time winners in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

The battle for supremacy begins on January 14, with Nigeria taking up Juan Micha’s staff, adopted by a extremely anticipated conflict towards the hosts on January 18 on the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

In an interview with CAFonline, Kalou, a former Chelsea striker, acknowledged the robust nature of Group A, singling out Jose Peseiro’s facet as probably the most formidable.

He emphasised Nigeria’s constant show of nice potential at every AFCON, whereas additionally noting Equatorial Guinea’s commendable efficiency within the final version and suggesting Guinea Bissau may very well be the group’s shock bundle.

Kalou pressured the significance of respecting all groups within the group and emphasised the importance of profitable the primary match to set the tone for a profitable competitors.

Reflecting on Ivory Coast’s internet hosting obligations, Kalou expressed pleasure in welcoming all of Africa to have fun soccer. With legends like Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré, and Gervinho having illuminated the nation’s soccer historical past, organizing the AFCON holds immense significance for the Ivorian soccer group.

The final time Ivory Coast hosted the competitors was in 1984, making this version a momentous event after a 40-year hiatus. Kalou prolonged gratitude to His Excellency the President of the Republic, Alassane Ouattara, for the infrastructure developments in place for the match.

Publish Views: 103