ASECI : les supporters des Elephants de Côte d'Ivoire

Daniel Sturridge Can Fill Drogba's Boots At Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti

2009-12-29T15:03:44Z

Youngster ready to step up during star's African Cup of Nations absence...

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has backed Daniel Sturridge to fill the gap left in the Blues' attack by Didier Drogba's departure for the African Cup of Nations in January.

Drogba was in impressive form again on Monday, scoring as the west Londoners overcame a goal deficit at Fulham to win 2-1.

With Salomon Kalou also going to the African Cup of Nations and Nicolas Anelka currently injured, Ancelotti's attacking options look a little threadbare.

But the Italian is backing Sturridge, the summer arrival from Manchester City, to show the maturity and ability required to lead the Chelsea line, although he may also tweak his tactics a little.

"He has scored 19 goals, but without Didier this year we did very well; we won in the Champions League without him and we can do the same in the Premiership," Ancelotti said, according to Sky Sports News. "I think in some matches we can change the system, we can use the wing in some matches if there is not space in midfield sometimes.

"Sturridge can play, it depends on the matches."

Meanwhile, Inter coach and former Blues boss Jose Mourinho was at yesterday's game at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti did not speak to his old sparring partner from his days in Serie A.

"I know he watched the game, but I didn't speak with him," added the former AC Milan coach.

"I think Chelsea showed very good things, but also not so good."

Chelsea will play Inter over two legs in the first knock-out round of the Champions League in February and March.

From : Goal.com

Doumbia's price tag scaring off Tottenham's Redknapp

Gouto — 2009-12-14T14:36:00Z

Swiss club Young Boys have put a £13.5million price tag on the head of striker Seydou Doumbia, scaring off interest from Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp is believed to be a big fan of the Ivory Coast international and was keen to make a January move for him but now it seems he may drop his interest because of Young Boys' valuation.

The Spurs boss was only keen to bring in Doumbia to bolster his attacking options and would not use him as a first-choice player as he has Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch so the price is exorbitant.

Redknapp will now make quick plans to monitor other strikers this weekend as his two back-ups – Roman Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane – continue to attract potential suitors.

Seydou Doumbia

from tribalfootball.com

Lille - Gervinho Strikes Again

Gouto — 2009-12-11T09:46:43Z

Gervinho scored his fifth goal in three games and his eighth of the season last night in Ligue 1

Author against AS Saint-Etienne (in a match from the 11th match-day that was shifted to last night) of the third goal for Lille, Ivorian phenom Gervinho brought to eight the total of his goals in Ligue 1 this season.

To the great satisfaction of the wing-man who came through the ranks of the the Academy Jean-Marc Guillou and Asec Mimosas in Abidjan:

"It's because of the collective that I am successful in these recent matches. Everyone is benefiting from this situation. It's just that at the moment, the group seems to have found its balance. I went through difficult times when I first arrived here from Le Mans, but I'm continuing to work. This is the only solution for me, "said Gervinho talking to French television channel, Canal+.

The recent transfer came to Lille with the hard task to replace Michel Bastos who had superstar Status in the North and in 15 games, nobody knows how the team will play when he leaves for the African Cup of Nations in Angola a month from now.

Goal.com

Ghana Coach Considers Ivory Coast As Toughest Opponents In African Cup Of Nations

Sagesse — 2009-11-21T15:00:37Z

Ivory Coast will be the toughest team for Ghana to beat in the group stages of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), according to head coach Milovan Rajevac.

“On paper, Ivory Coast are the favourites from our group and they indeed have a strong team. But there won't be any easy match at the Nations Cup," the Serbian told Ghanafa.org.

Ghana's group is an all West African affair – Ivory Coat, Togo and Burkina Faso - and has been tagged the 'Group of Death'.

“Every group is a tough one. There are no easy groups for this competition. Every side that tried to qualify has quality and can cause an upset. It's too easy to start talking now,” the Black Stars coach said after the draw on Friday.

Group B is based in Cabinda in the north of the country. It contains two of Africa's World Cup nations – Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Coach Rajevac has indicated that his side is prepared for the uphill task ahead. He said, “Our preparations have been on-going. But now, we can really focus on our opponents.

“We will be looking at our group members closely and analysing [them]. Also, we have to continue monitoring our players and make good preparations.”

Former Black Stars player Reverend Osei Kofi admitted that Ivory Coast should be the team to watch in the group but said the Black Stars should not underestimate the ability of the other teams.

“It's a tough group, but if we prepare well nothing can stop us,” he told a local radio station Peace FM.

Four-time champions Ghana beat Ivory Coast to bronze at the last CAN in 2008.

K.N.S. Mensah, Goal.com

African Nations Cup Draw: Egypt And Nigeria To Meet, While Ivory Coast Clash With Ghana

Sagesse — 2009-11-21T14:58:30Z

The draw took place on Friday afternoon in Luanda, Angola, the host country for the continental showpiece, which begins on 10 January and ends on 31 January.

The COCAN – the Organizing Committee of the competition coordinated the draw ceremony to find the four groups containing four teams each.

Angola have built stadiums in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango for the 32-fixture tournament with the opening match and final to be played at the 50 000-seater in the capital.

The major teams missing out on this draw were the likes of Senegal, Congo, Morocco and South Africa. Aside from those sides, who will disappointingly watch from their respective countries, the usual favourites of Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt and Ivory Coast are in the tournament, while impressive sides in Algeria, Mali, Gabon and hosts Angola look menacing.

Underdogs Benin, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Togo and Zambia will be hoping to make some noise, and the surprising entrants Malawi will be keen to continue their fairytale with a few positive results, 25 years after their last participation.

Angola was automatically in Group A as hosts, playing all of their group stage matches in Luanda. The other seeded teams were Cameroon, Egypt and Ivory Coast, setting up a possible meeting between some of those nations and the giants of Ghana and Nigeria.

The draw put Angola in a group with Mali, Malawi and World Cup bound Algeria. Speaking to Al Jazeera Sport after the draw, Angola coach Manuel Jose said, "I am satisfied with the draw. It is a balanced group. It will not be easy. All our adversaries are known to be combative. Algeria with us, they are doing well currently. Mali will be a difficult competitor. We will try to get one of the first two places to qualify.”

Group B matches will be played in Cabinda, and one of those enticing encounters will be between Ivory Coast and Ghana, two of the favourites for the tournament. Al Jazeera Sport spoke to Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic, and he said, “It's one of the most difficult groups. But we will be there to win all our matches. This will also be the case for Ghana. There are very competitive squads, therefore our mission will not be easy. My favourites for the title are Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola and Egypt.”

Benguela will host all the matches in Group C, which will include a fiery battle between Nigeria and Egypt. Finally, Lubango will host matches between Cameroon, Gabon, Zambia and Tunisia, allowing the Gabonese to have a shot at revenge over the Indomitable Lions.

goal.com

Kalou & Meite in Ivorian bust-up

Sagesse — 2009-11-21T14:54:49Z

The duo missed the Elephants' 3-0 win over Guinea in a 2010 World Cup qualifier on Saturday as a result of the fight on the eve of the match.

The pair have since made up but the punishment could be extended to Wednesday's game against Germany.

The Ivory Coast have qualified for both the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations next year.

"Things got a little heated but we are human and these things can happen to us," West Bromwich Albion defender Meite said after the incident.

"But in the end we understood that we have to preserve the spirit in the squad and so it's all forgotten now."

Chelsea forward Kalou also put the incident behind him.

"Meite is a big brother, I have apologised and he has accepted it," he explained.

"It's a pity that it was between Abdoulaye and myself. We were punished and I have accepted that and that's how we move on.

"You recognise your mistake and you learn - we've talked and its over."

bbc.co.uk

Yaya Toure contracts swine flu

Sagesse — 2009-11-21T14:52:00Z

Both players have been isolated and will miss the Primera Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night.

The news will come as a huge blow for the Spanish champions who have an important week of fixtures ahead.

Pep Guardiola's side face Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek before meeting arch-rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico next weekend.

"We'll get through this," said Guardiola.

"We knew a lot of people have it and we were at risk. Now it has arrived here and we have to make sure it doesn't spread which is why we have isolated them."

Five players from Barca's league rivals Osasuna have contracted swine flu in recent weeks and a second-division match involving Real Betis had to be postponed last month after 13 players from the squad were hit by the virus.

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores was unable to take training earlier this week after falling victim but had recovered sufficiently to return to work on Friday.

Blackburn Rovers were hit by an outbreak recently, while MK Dons have also been affected.

bbc.co.uk

Ivory Coast and Germany draw 2-2

Sagesse — 2009-11-21T14:48:12Z

Podolski converted a penalty in the 11th minute to put Germany ahead in Gelsenkirchen.

Then Emmanuel Eboue tied the game in the 57th.

Seydou Doumbia came off the bench in the 83rd and scored two minutes later to give Ivory Coast a 2-1 lead.

But Podolski scored two minutes into injury time in the half-empty Schalke stadium to secure a draw.

It was Germany's first match since the death of its goalkeeper Robert Enke.

Before the game, both World Cup-bound teams paid respect to Enke, who killed himself last week after battling depression for years.

Germany captain Michael Ballack, who could not play because of a knee injury, placed a No. 1 jersey with Enke's name on the bench of Germany's team.

There was a minute of silence and both teams played with black armbands.

A film featuring highlights from Enke's life was shown on the stadium's video screen before the kickoff, accompanied by the song 'You'll never walk alone'.

German fans remember goalkeeper Robert Enke who died last week During the presentation, Ivory Coast players wore T-shirts with the picture of Enke.

Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba, Ballack's teammate at Chelsea, also missed the game because of a rib injury and Germany got the first goal early.

Stefan Kiessling earned a penalty when he was brought down by Guy Demel and Podolski converted from the spot.

Only minutes later, Eboue chipped the ball over Tim Wiese, but hit the crossbar, before Arthur Boka cleared a header from Heiko Westermann off the line.

Piotr Trochowski hit the post late in the first half and Kiessling had a good effort parried by goalkeeper Aristides Zogbo in the 53rd.

Eboue scored a bizarre goal that left him gasping for air in pain.

Westermann, under pressure from Eboue, played the ball back to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, whose attempt to clear it hit Eboue in the abdomen and bounced into the net.

Neuer replaced Wiese at halftime.

Doumbia scored with a good shot from the edge of the box, after a pass from Gervinho, another Ivory Coast substitute.

Podolski salvaged the draw when he collected a pass from Westermann and drove the ball past Aristides Zogbo.

"It wasn't easy to play but we tried hard and we wanted to win," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

"We had some very good chances in the first half but we allowed some counterattacks in the second."

bbc.co.uk

Ivory Coast 3-0 Guinea

Sagesse — 2009-11-15T12:59:35Z

The Elephants dashed Guinea's hopes of featuring at next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Angola after they smashed three goals past them at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Saturday.

Even though Malawi also lost 1-0 in Burkina Faso, they and not Guinea will thus qualify for Angola 2010 as they finished with four points, a point more than nearest rivals Guinea.

Guinea needed at least a draw to boost their chances of featuring at the Nations Cup, but even without injured strikers Didier Drogba and Bakary Kone, the Elephants of the Ivory Coast proved too strong for their West African neighbours.

Lille forward Gervinho scored a first-half brace before Siaka Tiene made the game safe for the Elephants in the 68th minute with a third goal.

Samm Audu, Goal.com

Ivory Coast Tipped To Reach 2010 World Cup Quarter-Final

Sagesse — 2009-11-07T12:52:52Z

The Elephants of the Ivory Coast will reach at least the last eight of next year's World Cup, according to Mozambique coach, Mart Nooij.

The Ivorians failed to go past the first round of the World Cup on their debut in 2006, but expectations are high of a better performance by Didier Drogba and his team-mates in South Africa next year.

“The Ivory Coast should be one of the best African teams at the World Cup. They have a good coach and collection of top stars and as such will reach at least the quarter-final,” said Nooij in a Lagos radio interview.

“It is time Africa showed the rest of the world we can also play football. Ghana has begun that by winning the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt and Nigeria are doing well in the Under-17 World Cup.”

Nooij's Mozambique clashed with the Elephants twice in the qualifiers, losing 1-0 in Abidjan before holding the highly-rated Ivorians to a 1-1 draw in Maputo.

Africa's best performance at the World Cup were achieved by Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup and Senegal in 2002 as both teams got as far as the quarterfinals.

mtnfootball.com