Sabri Lamouchi, the national coach of the Ivory Coast’s Elephants, has unveiled the preliminary list of 28 players who could participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Among the notable names are veterans like Didier Drogba, the Touré brothers, Gervinho, Didier Zokora, and Salomon Kalou. Additionally, Mandé Sayouba has been called up as the backup goalkeeper to Boubacar Barry. Sayouba, a young talent who made his mark at Stabaek in Norway, has been earning regular call-ups under Lamouchi.
Before the World Cup kicks off, Ivory Coast will play friendlies against Bosnia (May 30 in Saint-Louis, USA) and El Salvador (June 4 in Dallas). In the tournament itself, the Elephants are placed in Group C alongside Japan (June 14 in Recife), Colombia (June 19 in Brasilia), and Greece (June 24 in Fortaleza).
Looking ahead to the tournament, Sayouba expressed optimism about Ivory Coast’s chances, believing they have a strong team capable of progressing far and even winning. He also praised Boubacar Barry, the team’s experienced goalkeeper, describing him as a mentor and welcoming figure who has helped him integrate into the squad.
Tags: Ivory Coast, World Cup 2014, Drogba, Kolo Touré, Lamouchi, football, team225
