Super Eagles Group A opponent and host of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast, cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win in their pre-tournament friendly over Sierra Leone on Saturday.
The elephants, who are camped in their nation, showed a glimpse of what is to be expected of them when the AFCON kicks off as they demolished their West African counterparts at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.
Sierra Leone marque ????
5-1 pic.twitter.com/BsVUmooRxq
— SOUTIENAUXELEPHANTS???????? (@saedeciv) January 6, 2024
Ivory Coast’s head coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, fielded a star-studded starting XI that included former Barcelona midfielder and team captain Franck Kessie, alongside Spain-based Jonathan Bamba, OGC Nice midfielder Jeremie Boga, and Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare.
The match was all Ivory Coast as they raced to a quick three-nil lead in the first half thanks to strikes from Sporting Lisbon defender Ousmane Diomande, as well as Kessie and Bamba.
The Elephants continued in similar fashion in the second half, with Boga converting from a freekick to make it four for his side before Amani Lazari added another to take the scoreline to five-nil for the 2023 AFCON hosts.
However, late in the game, Sierra Leone pulled one back through Rodney Michael, but the consolation goal was not enough as Ivory Coast had done their job early on.
The Elephants will not play anymore friendlies until the AFCON begins on January 13. This year’s tournament, which is the 34th edition of the continent’s biggest football showpiece, ends on February 11.
Ivory Coast are drawn in Group A alongside Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
They will begin their charge for a third continental title with their opening game against the Djurtus on Saturday, January 13, before taking on Nigeria on January 18 at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara Stadium, and finally Equatorial Guinea on the 22nd of January.
