WAFCON 2026: Ivory Coast coach Reynald Pedros eyes top spot in Group B ahead of Tanzania clash

Ivory Coast head coach Reynald Pedros has stressed the importance of securing victory against Tanzania as the Elephants aim to finish top of Group B at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The West African outfit will take on Tanzania in their third and final group-stage match on Tuesday, August 4. With qualification to the knockout stage still at stake and first place in the group up for grabs, Pedros has called on his players to approach the encounter with the same focus and determination that have characterized their campaign so far.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, the French tactician made it clear that there would be no room for complacency despite his side’s encouraging start to the tournament. According to Pedros, the objective remains straightforward: beat Tanzania and secure top spot in the group.

“This match is just as important as the first and second ones. We’ll approach it in the same way to win it. There’s no need to do the maths. To finish top, we have to win tomorrow’s match. So we’ll do whatever it takes to win it,” Pedros said.

The former Olympique Lyonnais women’s coach believes focusing solely on victory is the best approach rather than becoming distracted by various qualification scenarios and permutations. His message to the squad has been clear—maintain their winning mentality and finish the group stage strongly.

Ivory Coast head into the decisive fixture in a strong position after collecting four points from their opening two matches. The Elephants began their campaign in impressive fashion with a commanding 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso, a result that immediately established them as one of the early contenders in the group.

They followed that performance with an entertaining 2-2 draw against defending champions South Africa, demonstrating both their attacking quality and resilience against one of the tournament favourites. Although they were unable to secure all three points, the result kept them at the summit of Group B heading into the final round of matches.

Pedros will be hoping his side can build on the positive aspects of those performances and deliver another strong display against Tanzania. A victory would not only guarantee first place in the group but could also provide a significant confidence boost ahead of the knockout stages.

The Elephants have shown attacking flair throughout the competition, scoring six goals in their first two outings, and will look to continue that form against a Tanzanian side eager to end the group phase on a positive note.

With a place in the quarter-finals within reach and top spot on the line, Ivory Coast know that a strong performance on Tuesday night could set the tone for the remainder of their WAFCON 2026 campaign. Pedros and his players will therefore be determined to finish the group stage in style and carry momentum into the next phase of the tournament.