Gervinho, an integral player at AS Roma alongside Moroccan Mehdi Benatia, and a key figure for the Ivory Coast national football team, is determined not to miss out on the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Having participated in the tournament twice before (2006 and 2010) without advancing beyond the group stage, the former Arsenal player has set ambitious goals this time around, aiming to at least qualify for the round of 16.
Expressing his aspirations, Gervinho stated to AFP, “I hope to go as far as possible. The World Cup is another challenge, but I know that there are great players in the selection, and it can compete with top teams. My main objective is to pass the first round.” However, the Ivorian team faces a challenging group with Greece, Japan, and Colombia, all formidable opponents.
Gervinho also discussed his return to the African Cup of Nations, where he has consistently delivered strong performances since 2006. Despite the Ivory Coast’s repeated attempts, they have yet to secure victory in the competition. Gervinho, however, remains optimistic about the current generation’s chances.
“In the African Cup, they don’t ask me about reaching the final; they ask me to win it. I hope to win it with my teammates before ending our international careers. We have been chasing this trophy since the 1992 generation, and we hope that ours will succeed in winning it too,” he concluded.
