The Ivory Coast national team has arrived in Casablanca for the return match of the 2014 World Cup play-offs against Senegal, scheduled for the upcoming Saturday. The squad is complete, except for Arthur Boka, the left-back from Stuttgart, who had to withdraw due to an injury.
Boka is dealing with a torn adductor muscle, sidelining him for approximately two weeks. This marks the second withdrawal in the left-back position for coach Sabri Lamouchi, following the absence of Siaka Tiéné from Montpellier. Despite the setbacks, Lamouchi has opted not to call for additional reinforcements, maintaining his squad of 25 players.
The Elephants conducted their initial training session on Monday, primarily for warm-up purposes before getting into more intensive sessions on Tuesday. Ivory Coast is in a favorable position to secure a spot in the World Cup after winning the first leg 3-1.
The team’s preparation is crucial as they aim to maintain their lead and secure their place in the 2014 World Cup, and the absence of Boka poses a challenge that the squad will need to address strategically.
