The anticipated clash with Argentina in March has been shelved, leaving the Elephants with new opponents on the horizon. Emerse Faé, the coach who recently secured victory at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), disclosed the revised plans for friendly encounters, offering insights into the challenges that lie ahead for the African champions.
Faé, who is yet to formalize his coaching contract, shared on Wednesday during an appearance on La3 channel’s La Grande Team show, “It’s not official yet, but we should play Benin and Uruguay.
It’s two very good matches too.” While the prospect of facing Lionel Messi and the Argentine squad has faded, the Elephants are set to test their mettle against South American counterparts of considerable prowess.
Uruguay, a formidable team that graced the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Benin, known as the Cheetahs, will be the new adversaries for Ivory Coast.
The encounters, albeit friendly, promise intense competition, with Uruguay, under the helm of the esteemed Marcelo Bielsa, presenting a substantial challenge.
As anticipation builds for these matches, journalist Malick Traoré has hinted, through a post on his X account, that the friendly clash between Ivory Coast and Uruguay could take place at the iconic Parc des Princes on March 18.
The stadium, home to Paris Saint-Germain and boasting a seating capacity of over 48,000, is poised to host this compelling showdown between the Elephants and Bielsa’s formidable selection.
The shift in opponents, while disappointing for those who anticipated the AFCON matchup, sets the stage for Ivory Coast to prove their mettle against diverse and competitive teams.
As the Elephants aim to build on their recent AFCON triumph, the friendly fixtures against Benin and Uruguay become pivotal tests of their resilience and adaptability on the international stage.
La 𝗖𝗼̂𝘁𝗲 𝗱’𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲 🇨🇮 affrontera normalement le Bénin 🇧🇯 et l’Uruguay 🇺🇾 en matchs amicaux le mois prochain sous réserve de confirmation dixit Emerse FAÉ.
🎥 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 : 𝗟𝗮 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 (𝗟𝗮 𝟯) pic.twitter.com/bhvdoRfGPT
— IvorianProud225 (@IvorianProud225) February 21, 2024
