AFCON 2015 – Hervé Renard: “Côte d’Ivoire Not Among the Favorites This Time”
Following the AFCON 2015 draw held this Wednesday in Malabo, Côte d’Ivoire was placed in a challenging Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali, and Guinea—a draw that reflects the Elephants’ rocky path to qualification.
Head coach Hervé Renard, who led Zambia to the title in 2012, admitted that expectations should be tempered for this Ivorian side:
“The qualifiers were quite complicated. So, we won’t be among the big favorites. Other teams have performed much better than us.”
Although the Elephants boast a squad full of talent, Renard insists that final victory is not the primary objective this time around:
“Final victory is a little less of an objective for Côte d’Ivoire than in other years.”
Despite the tough group, the Frenchman found a silver lining in the tournament logistics:
“The very positive thing is that we will be based in Malabo. At least I know this city, and the Ivory Coast too.”
With Cameroon, Mali, and a confident Guinea in their group, the Elephants will need a sharp turnaround in form if they are to meet the continent’s perennial expectations for one of its most talented squads.
