Côte d’Ivoire international Yaya Toure has his sights set on hoisting the African Cup of Nations trophy after the final in Libreville, Gabon on February 12.
The Elephants topped Group B after recording victories against Sudan (1-0), Burkina Faso (2-0) and Angola (2-0). They will face co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals on Saturday, February 19.
Côte d’Ivoire have been dubbed the tournament favorites since day one, and rightfully so.
However, Yaya Toure was quick to admit that the Elephants must be on high upset alert.
“If there’s any country that should be careful of favourites it should be us,” he told KICKOFF.
“For the past four tournaments we have been called favourites and we have not won it.
“My biggest fear is that my generation will pass without winning anything. That will be indescribable, as we say in French … if my country does not get anything before I retire, it will be my biggest failing.”
Group B Recap
In Côte d’Ivoire’s first game in Group B, Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba netted the winner for the Elephants, who bossed the game despite winning just 1-0 on January 22.
The Elephants officially booked their place in the quarter-finals on January 26 after beating Burkina Faso 2-0.
Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou put Côte d’Ivoire in front in the 16th minute, and an own-goal by Babary Kone doubled the Elephants lead in the 82nd minute.
Côte d’Ivoire’s final group victory came at the expense of Angola, who were knocked out of the African Cup of Nations on goal difference following a 2-0 loss to the Elephants on January 30.
Goals from Emmanuel Eboué (33′) and Wilfried Guemiand Bony (64′) kept Côte d’Ivoire’s perfect record in the competition in tact.
Côte d’Ivoire v Equatorial Guinea
As previously mentioned, the Elephants will face co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in the quarter-finals of the 28th edition of the African Cup of Nations on February 4 at Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Despite Equatorial Guinea having home-field advantage, I still fancy Côte d’Ivoire to advance to the semi-finals.
Players to Watch
For the Elephants, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will surely be the man to watch.
The 33-year-old has netted an extraordinary 52 goals for his country. Look for him to add to his tally in Malabo on Saturday.
Former Real Madrid and Benfica winger Javier Balboa, who netted the winner against Libya, is the danger-man for Nzalang Nacional.
Balboa is currently playing for Sport Clube Beira-Mar in the Portuguese first division. The Spanish-born Equatoguinean has scored one goal in 14 appearances for Auri-negros in 2011-12.
Prediction
At the end of the day, Côte d’Ivoire has far too much talent to lose at any stage of this competition. 2-0 Elephants.
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