Players in tears, projectiles thrown, incidents in the stands and in the streets of Abidjan... Just a week ago, no one in Ivory Coast could imagine that the Elephants would challenge the Senegalese title holder, in the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations, this Monday evening (9 p.m.).
However, the organizing country will present itself at the Yamoussoukro Stadium for a classic of the African continent with the obligation to redeem itself after a week in hell.
Read alsoCAN 2024: results and program for the African Cup of Nations
Opposed to Equatorial Guinea on Monday January 22, four days after a setback against Nigeria (0-1), Jean-Louis Gasset's men could be satisfied with a draw to validate their qualification.
But, totally taken by the stakes, Seko Fofana and his team sank into an evening where nothing worked out for them.
Despite 69% possession, 22 shots attempted and two goals disallowed, the Ivorians collapsed, plunging the 42,550 spectators at the Stade Alassane Ouattara into fear.
Result: a 4-0 defeat, the largest in the history of a double African champion nation.
“We must show another face to the people”
At this moment, an entire country saw the scenario of 1984 repeated, when Côte d'Ivoire was eliminated from the group stage while organizing the CAN.
However, the Elephants are not yet eliminated.
Indeed, since the change in format of the competition in 2021, the four best third-placed teams from the six different groups obtain their ticket to the round of 16.
Forced to remain mobilized and observe the results of the other groups, the Green and Orange were finally saved by the miracle of Mozambique against Ghana (2-2) and by the victory of Morocco over Zambia (1-0).
The organizing country has thus qualified for the final phase, where Senegal awaits it, through the very back door.
A shock against the Lions of Teranga that Jean-Louis Gasset will not lead.
Appointed in May 2022, the French coach could not resist the historic slap and was notified of the end of his contract last Wednesday, before even knowing if his team was going to continue the adventure.
Present on the staff, it is the former Ivorian international (44 caps) Émerse Faé who has been appointed to take over until the end of the tournament.
Asked at a press conference about the difficulty of getting back on track after such a setback, the former FC Nantes and OGC Nice midfielder confided that his group had experienced “two very difficult days emotionally and mentally” .
“As well as losing 4-0 at home, not being sure of qualifying made it difficult psychologically.
It was very difficult to work, we had to heal the wounds of defeat by crossing our fingers to qualify knowing that it no longer depended on us.
But we must show another face to the people.
It would be unacceptable if attitudes did not change.
»
“I had other things to watch than the rumors about Hervé’s arrival”
An already difficult management for the young coach to which was added the shadow of Hervé Renard.
Indeed, the coach of the French women's team found himself at the heart of an improbable loan attempt initiated by the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) and its president Idriss Diallo.
The latter, wishing to place the man who allowed Côte d'Ivoire to win its second star on his bench for a rescue role, however came up against the refusal of the FFF, while Renard "would have loved" to do his back.
“I had other concerns and other things to look at than the rumors about the arrival or not of Hervé” confided Faé, calmly.
“If he had come, I wouldn’t have had any worries.
But he's not here so we're not going to talk about him.
From the moment the president did not come to tell me that the interim would be managed by someone else, I focused on my group, on my players and on Monday's objective.
»
One more twist which certainly should not have helped a group already destabilized by a chaotic start to the tournament.
But, back from the dead, Ivory Coast now has the opportunity to achieve one of the greatest comebacks in the history of African football.
And to finally honor its status as a great player on the continent.