Less than a week before the Ivory Coast–Senegal match, a crucial first leg in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, the two French coaches leading the teams, Sabri Lamouchi and Alain Giresse, have engaged in a heated exchange through the press. The Senegalese media extensively covered this contentious exchange.
The disagreement originated from Sabri Lamouchi’s recent departure from Abidjan, which led to Alain Giresse’s remark that Ivory Coast is a team with “two or three individuals. No more.”
Lamouchi, responding to Giresse’s comments, expressed his discontent, stating, “Giresse must be more moderate. I leave him responsible for his words.” The Ivorian coach emphasized his reluctance to criticize the opposing team, asserting, “I won’t do the same because it’s not my motto.”
In a more assertive tone, Lamouchi declared, “We will demonstrate to Alain Giresse that, in addition to our individualities, we have a collective, and that it is not he who will make the difference on the ground.”
These exchanges have stirred up significant debate in Dakar, turning the upcoming match on October 12 between the Lions and the Elephants into a highly anticipated and intense encounter at the Abidjan stadium, resembling a fratricidal war. The stage is set for a compelling battle between the two West African nations as they vie for a spot in the 2014 World Cup.
