Gervinho believes Ivory Coast holds the qualities needed to defend their Africa Cup of Nations title in 2025.
The Elephants enter the tournament as reigning champions after their dramatic triumph on home soil, and the former national team winger expects the squad to challenge for the trophy again.
He speaks confidently about the team’s blend of individual brilliance and group unity.
He says Ivory Coast always produces players with natural flair and match-winning ability, but he insists the collective mindset drives their success.
He points to the previous AFCON as proof, explaining that the squad progressed because every player committed to the team’s overall mission.
“First, there are the individual players. In Ivory Coast, we’ve always had players capable of making the difference on their own, talents who naturally stand out,” he says.
He then adds: “But the most important asset is the collective. During the last AFCON, we saw it: when the collective spirit took over, everything fell into place.
The individual players put themselves at the service of the group, and that’s how the team progressed.”
Gervinho recalls the determination he witnessed during the tournament, saying the squad showed exceptional motivation and extraordinary resolve, even in moments when they played with reduced numbers.
He says those displays of character convinced him that Ivory Coast can shine again.
Ivory Coast will compete in a group with Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique at the 2025 AFCON.
The Elephants recently faced Cameroon and Gabon in World Cup qualifiers, and Gervinho says those meetings remind him how demanding every African tournament remains.
He acknowledges the difficulty of the task but expresses full confidence in the current squad.
“In Africa, all groups are difficult. We grew up with that reality. We know each other, we know each other’s playing styles, we know that nothing is simple,” he says.
“The most important thing is to get through the first round. With the team’s qualities, I sincerely believe they have everything they need to succeed.
Big matches always motivate players. Young players love these events; these matches create great players.”
