Ivory Coast Drawn with Cameroon, Mali, and Guinea at AFCON 2015: Serge Aurier Calls for Focus and Cautions Against Pressure
Ivory Coast will face a challenging group in the first round of the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), pitted against Cameroon, Mali, and Guinea. For the Elephants, progressing beyond the group stage is the primary goal.
Speaking to Le Parisien, Serge Aurier, PSG and Ivory Coast defender, shared his thoughts on the group:
“We’re meeting up with our Cameroonian friends, but Guinea and Mali are two formidable opponents. We couldn’t have dreamed of anything better because it will allow us to get straight into this competition, which is very important for us. The first objective is to get out of this group.”
Aurier also gave a realistic assessment of Ivory Coast’s status:
“Today, Ivory Coast is not one of the favorites. We must remember that we did not dominate, and qualifying was difficult. Perhaps it’s better because each time we were seen as favorites, we struggled with the pressure and couldn’t go all the way. We were always in the last four but never managed to win.”
He added that flying a bit under the radar might be a strategic advantage:
“It’s perhaps better to advance a little hidden to create a surprise.”
The defender took the opportunity to praise coach Hervé Renard, who led Zambia to victory in the 2012 AFCON:
“If you look closely, the star of the team is him. He is the only one to have won this famous CAN. He brings us his humility. He beat us as an opponent and could have arrived asserting he was the boss, but no, he remains himself. He makes us progress. With him, we feel good.”
Ivory Coast’s campaign begins next January, with a clear focus on overcoming a tough group and aiming for success under Renard’s leadership.
