Victorious over Lesotho (1-0) on Saturday, September 9, 2023, in San Pedro, during the last day of the Can 2023 qualifiers, the Elephants return to the Ébimpé stadium, this Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at around 7 p.m. , to face the Eagles of Mali.
A friendly preparation match which will certainly not have anything friendly. Oppositions between the two countries have always been real derbies in the sub-region.
Just after the big victory of the Eagles of Mali against South Sudan (4-0), during the last day of the Can 2023 qualifiers in group G, it was all Mali, as one man, who launched a challenge to Côte d’Ivoire.
“This is a warning to Côte d’Ivoire. We come to your house to give you a football lesson,” said Malian supporters.
The Elephants are therefore warned. They will face the vengeful Eagles at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic stadium in Ébimpé. The last duel between the two teams dates back to Can 2019, in Egypt.
The Eagles had made the game, but the Elephants had imported it (1-0) thanks to a goal from Wilfried Zaha in the 76th and blocked their path to the quarter-finals. This defeat stuck in the throats of Yves Bissouma, Djenepo and their teammates.
The Eagles therefore challenge the Elephants who were not too convincing during their match on Saturday against Lesotho.
But this Tuesday, it will be another face of the Pachyderms that the Ivorians will discover. “We will have another team,” declared Jean Louis Gasset.
Some executives left on the bench at the start of the match against Lesotho will certainly make their debut, with young people at their side who have proven themselves capable of facing major challenges.
“I know Mali, its coach, the players, etc. It’s a very good team which has a diamond playing system with two very impactful attackers. What I deplore is the preparation time we had. We will do everything to stay in the momentum of victory. It’s a good challenge for us and we’ll have to increase the intensity,” declared coach Jean Louis Gasset on Monday, September 11, at the pre-match conference.
“There are talented players on both teams, but we are going to beat Mali,” declared Franck Kessié.
A match which could be a reference for certain players and confirm their definitive integration into the group. See you this evening, from 7 p.m., to see which of the Elephants or the Eagles will win this West African derby.