Cote d’Ivoire careful despite favourites tag

THE same is familiar. Two years ago the Elephants were the overwhelming favourites in their quarterfinal clash against the Super Eagles in South Africa. Nobody reckoned with a certain Sunday Mba and Emmanuel Emenike in the Eagles’ ranks. At the end of the day, Didier Drogba and his troops left the Rustenberg stadium with their tails behind their legs.

  As was the case exactly two years ago Tuesday, Cote d’Ivoire is the overwhelming favourite goinf into today’s semifinal clash with the Republic of Congo. Although their famous captain, Didier Drogba, is no longer among their goal hunters, the manner the Ivoirians dismissed Africa’s highest ranked side, Algeria, suggests that Yaya Toure and is compatriots are on a mission to win the trophy that has eluded them since their first and last taste of victory in 1992.

 Today’s game in Bata is against an old enemy, who somehow manages to find their fangs whenever the battle is against Hevard Renard’s men. The winner will take on either Ghana or hosts Equatorial Guinea, who meet tomorrow.

  Although the Republic of Congo are chasing their first final appearance since winning the continental showpiece back in 1974, they showed in their clinical 4-2 dismissal of Congo that they are a side that means business and could potentially go all the way.

  Goal scoring has been a bit difficult for Florent Ibenge’s men, as they squeezed through the Group phase with only three points after draws against Tunisia, Cape Verde and Zambia.

  Cote d’Ivoire and Republic of Congo will go into today’s game knowing that the loser will get no second chance unlike the scenario during their qualifiers. When the two countries met on the road to Equarorial Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire beat Congo 2-1 in Kinshaha, while the Congolese returned the favour with a dramatic 3-2 win in Abidjan. 

  However, DR Congo’s Ibenge is not reading too much into past results, though, and believes the return of Kolo Toure has made a significant difference to today night’s opponents.

“This is a team unlike the one we met in October. It changed especially defensively. There are new faces that were added like Kolo Toure who has masterful command of his team’s defence. The team is also much more mature,” he said.

  Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire coach Herve Renard will have to make do without one of his key players – midfield ball-winner Cheick Tioté, who is sidelined for a month with the ankle injury he sustained against Mali.