Ivory Coast’s reign as African champions came to an abrupt and painful conclusion on Saturday as they were knocked out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by Egypt, losing 3-2 in a pulsating quarter-final that left the Elephants searching for answers.
For Franck Kessié, the defeat carried a deeply personal sting.
The Al Ahli midfielder, one of the senior figures in the squad, was directly involved in the build-up to Egypt’s opening goal, a moment that shifted the momentum of the contest and set the tone for an evening that never truly settled for the defending champions.
In the mixed zone afterwards, Kessié did not attempt to deflect blame or hide behind status.
Instead, he confronted the disappointment head-on, delivering a rare public reflection on the fallibility even of elite performers.
“ I’m still human, this proves it once again. There are off days, when it’s harder, ” he admitted, his words capturing both the rawness of the moment and the weight he felt as a leader of the group.
Yet his response was not one of isolation, but of unity.
For Kessié, the elimination was not a personal failure but a collective wound that the entire squad would have to process together.
“ We’re still a family. We lose together, we win together. The next two or three days are going to be very bitter, but we’ll turn the page, because that’s what being a champion is all about. ”
Those “bitter days” are made all the more difficult by the expectations that followed Ivory Coast into this tournament.
As holders of the trophy, the Elephants arrived in Morocco with ambitions not merely to compete, but to confirm their status among Africa’s elite.
Kessié was candid about that shortfall.
“ As the reigning champions, we haven’t achieved our objective. We came here at least to reach the semi-finals, so we’ve missed our chance, ” he said, acknowledging that anything less than a deep run would be considered a disappointment for a team of such pedigree.
« C’est une défaite collective ce soir et les prochains jours seront amers » Franck Kessié sur la défaite de la Côte d’Ivoire. #CAN2025 pic.twitter.com/SbDEzO8ivH
— Le Kpakpato Sportif (@LKsportif) January 11, 2026
Even in defeat, however, the 28-year-old showed respect for the opposition, recognising the efficiency of the Pharaohs, led from the touchline by Hossam Hassan.
“ We’ll return to our clubs to prepare for the March international break and also the World Cup. Tonight, their plan worked very well ,” he added, choosing composure over recrimination.
Perhaps the most telling part of Kessié’s post-match reflections came when he turned his attention to the future.
Rather than dwell on what had been lost, he spoke about what could still be built, pointing to the emergence of a new generation that is beginning to shape the next chapter of Ivorian football.
” We need to support them. But with these talents, Ivory Coast will return to the podium. “
Names such as Yan Diomandé, Christ Inao Oulai, Guéla Doué, Bazoumana Touré and Amad Diallo are increasingly seen as the standard-bearers of that renewal.
For Kessié, their development is not merely a project, but a promise that this quarter-final exit, painful as it is, does not define the end of an era.
In Cairo, Ivory Coast’s crown slipped from their grasp amid mistakes and missed opportunities.
But in the words of their most influential midfielder, the Elephants are already being asked to look beyond the heartbreak, to accept the fall, and to prepare for the climb back to the summit.
