Hervé Renard Stresses Humility Ahead of Ivory Coast vs DR Congo Semi-Final Clash
Following their impressive 3-1 quarter-final victory over tournament favorites Algeria, Ivory Coast’s Elephants are gaining momentum heading into the 2015 African Cup of Nations semi-finals. This Wednesday, coach Hervé Renard’s side will face a tough challenge against the surprising Democratic Republic of Congo Leopards.
Despite Ivory Coast being favored by many, Renard remains cautious and emphasizes the importance of respect and preparation against Florent Ibenge’s team.
“It will be very close. Set pieces will be very important. The Congolese are very dangerous in this regard given their athletic potential,” Renard stated. “There will be the question of freshness, the team that will be the best prepared, the one with the most determination. If we think that simply putting on the Côte d’Ivoire jersey will be enough to beat the DRC, we will be completely wrong.”
He continued, “We must be humble, we do not have a team to walk all our opponents. We have solidity, rigor, we must remain in this register. The athletic notion is always very important in the African Cup, but it is important to think carefully tactically, on how to counter the opponent.”
Renard’s words highlight his awareness of the Leopards’ strengths and the need for tactical discipline as Ivory Coast aims to secure a place in the final.
