I am one of those who did not want the triumph of Côte d’Ivoire. But, given the miraculous journey of this team, I think they deserve their victory!
I did not wish for the triumph of Ivory Coast
Nothing to do with stories of in-laws, or with the Ivorian-Cameroonian clashes which are well established on Facebook. Because if I did not want to see Côte d’Ivoire on the summit of Africa, it is quite simply because I thought that it did not deserve it at the start.
Already, I found the Elephants’ game very insipid in the first round. Then I was disappointed in the round of 16, when they eliminated the big favorite which was Senegal. Among the eight teams who were in the quarterfinals, I considered that Ivory Coast was the only intruder. Then they surprised me once again, by eliminating my favorite team which was Mali and which currently has a very resplendent generation…
Ivory Coast, the CAN of hospitality
To come back to the CAN in general, it was a very, very good competition. The best in history, without disrespect to previous editions. Because there was not really a major incident, apart from the small altercation between the Moroccans and the Congolese during their second group match.
Other than that, no serious injuries! The delegations arrived well and were all welcome, and they left well too. The key word “akwaba” which means welcome was well magnified, and this African Cup of Nations was indisputably the CAN of hospitality.
We can nevertheless deplore the ticketing scandal, with stadium access tickets which were practically impossible to find for my friend Pierre La Paix Ndamè, or at very excessive prices. But we can also congratulate the crazy atmosphere in the stands, the warm supporters in the fan zones, the stadiums which were full to capacity during all the big matches, and a refereeing which was generally unquestionable!
CAN 2023 was one of the most successful in history. Source: Wikipedia /CC
A competition of surprises
If we think that this CAN was sublime, it is also for its share of surprises. We saw lots of great matches which didn’t have an extraordinary display, but that’s because all the teams surpassed themselves. The competition saw a record number of goals scored in 52 matches (118), for an average of 2.26 goals/match. Nations like Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde and South Africa have made a good impression, and we hope that African football is undergoing a gigantic leveling from its base.
The giants have all fallen, or almost: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Ghana, Tunisia, all fell before the quarter-finals. Ditto for Cameroon which called itself the “continent”, but whose shaky management and pitiful performances brought home ridiculous Indomitable Lions, with their tails between their legs…
The scoreline of 0-0 was almost absent, as it appeared for the first time on the third day of the group stage. The matches were prolific, the attacks and defenses well organized, and the goalkeepers were regularly imperious on their line and in the air.
In short, it was a pleasant CAN, a sweet CAN, a spectacular CAN, an inimitable CAN; one of the greatest football competitions of all time…
A miraculous Ivorian team
And then, Ivory Coast! Who would’ve believed that ? Who could bet after their last group match that this team could make it past even the first round?
Ivory Coast suffered a humiliating defeat, 0 goals to 4, against the modest team of Equatorial Guinea. It was already buried and at the bottom of the hole, and it only owed its qualification thanks to the poor performance of Ghana against Mozambique (2-2), and to the victory of Morocco against Zambia (1-0 ).
A miracle ! An unexpected qualification, an improbable resurrection. The Ivorians returned to the competition sheepishly, after having sacked their French coach to install a national, assistant Emerse Faé. Gasset’s former right-hand man immediately remobilized his troops, organizing them for an unforeseeable victory against Senegal, at the end of the penalty shootout. Then there was the Malian miracle, where the Ivorians were trailing until the 90th minute of play, and where they managed to equalize even though they had long been reduced to ten men. To then qualify in the very last seconds of overtime…
Ivory Coast then logically dominated the DRC in the semi-final, before winning in the final against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who were nevertheless the overwhelming favorites of this meeting. As always, Emerse Faé’s men had to react with their backs to the wall, after being behind until the 61st minute, before the achievements of Kessié (62nd) and Haller (81st).
A courageous team, persevering and determined, which was certainly not the most talented nor the most brilliant in the competition, but which undoubtedly deserves its reward with this supreme coronation.
The Alassane Ouattara stadium hosted the opening match and the final. Source: afrik-foot.com /CC-BY
Ivory Coast, the reward of hospitality
So I am one of those who especially did not want the triumph of Côte d’Ivoire. But, given the miraculous journey of this selection, I think that it fully and indisputably deserves its consecration!
The victory of hospitality! The Ivorian stadiums were extraordinary, and the competition allowed us to discover a developing country which continues its rapid transformation towards emergence.
The victory of arbitration! Because whatever anyone says, Côte d’Ivoire has won all its battles on the ground. On no occasion has it benefited from any arbitration favoritism due to an organizing country.
The victory of African football quite simply, because this CAN was sublime, and it proves that our football no longer has anything to envy of other footballs which are developing on other continents.
Because the organization was perfect, the television broadcast was impeccable, and the football matches took place in an unbearable atmosphere and suspense. The CAN 2023 which has just taken place in 2024 in Ivory Coast, will remain an unforgettable African Cup; because it is the most beautiful football competition ever organized on our continent. And if you asked me if the final winner really deserves his title, I would answer you without any hesitation: discouragement is not Ivorian!
Ecclesiastes DEUDJUIcongratulations to Ivory Coast!
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