The draw for the 2014 World Cup play-offs has set up an intense clash between Ivory Coast and Senegal, reigniting memories of their previous encounters. The two nations faced each other in the CAN 2013 play-offs, with Ivory Coast emerging victorious with a 4-2 win in the first leg and a 2-0 win in the return leg (before the match was stopped).
Senegalese defender Ricardo Faty acknowledges the challenge posed by facing Ivory Coast again, emphasizing the complexity of the match. He expressed his thoughts, stating, “It’s surprising to come up against Ivory Coast again, but I felt we were going to face them again. It’s a complicated match for us, and this Ivorian team was one of the top seeds to avoid.”
Reflecting on their past encounters, Faty emphasized the need to learn from the lessons of last year to have hope in qualifying for the World Cup. The upcoming play-off will be a crucial test for both teams, with Ivory Coast and Senegal aiming to secure their place in the global football spectacle in Brazil.
