AFCON 2015: Hervé Renard Warns Against Overconfidence Ahead of Ivory Coast vs DR Congo Semi-Final
As the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations heads into its final stretch, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo are set to clash this Wednesday in Bata for a place in the final. While the Elephants are widely viewed as favorites following a solid tournament run and a convincing 3-1 victory over Algeria in the quarter-finals, their coach Hervé Renard is urging caution.
“If we think that simply wearing the Ivory Coast jersey will be enough to beat the DRC, we’d be wrong,” Renard warned ahead of the semi-final.
The Elephants haven’t forgotten the 4-3 home defeat to DR Congo in the qualifiers back on October 15, 2014, a match that ended a long unbeaten streak at home for Yaya Touré’s generation. Renard knows that the Leopards are a very different team now — just as Ivory Coast has evolved during the tournament.
“They brought one or two important touches, notably Mbokani, who didn’t play against us in qualifying. He’s a very important player, who scored two goals in the quarter-finals.”
Renard praised the Congolese team’s tactical unity and their core, largely composed of players familiar with each other through TP Mazembe, which gives them strong cohesion.
He also highlighted Mbokani’s physical presence, aerial ability, and his role in holding up play — all critical weapons that the Ivorian defense will need to contain.
As Ivory Coast seeks revenge and aims to reach its third final in nine years, Renard’s message is clear: humility, discipline, and tactical focus will be just as important as star power.
