Ivory Coast’s key challenges to address ahead of AFCON 2025

Despite securing qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, reigning champions Ivory Coast faced unexpected hurdles during their campaign. Ivorian football analyst Roger Dedi has analyzed the team’s performances and outlined critical adjustments required to defend their title effectively in Morocco.

The Elephants began their campaign on a high note, securing three consecutive victories fueled by confidence from their 2023 triumph.

However, complacency set in, leading to unnecessary defeats and second place behind Zambia.

This lack of humility could have jeopardized qualification, warns Dedi.

Éliminatoires CAN 2025 : Le classement du groupe G après la 6e et dernière journée !

La Zambie🇿🇲 et la Côte d’Ivoire🇨🇮 décrochent leur qualification !😍#ÉliminatoiresCan2025 #Classement #GroupeG #Carrefoot pic.twitter.com/ccmRru4jRt

— Carréfoot (@Carre_foot) November 19, 2024

Post-AFCON overconfidence has disrupted the team’s cohesion, with excessive squad rotations and a fragile mentality undermining their consistency.

We thought being champions meant we were untouchable, but maintaining success requires continuous effort,” he adds.

To prepare for AFCON 2025, Dedi recommends three crucial strategies.

Firstly, the team must establish stability by identifying a consistent core group of players.

🏆⚽️| Officiel :voici les 24 pays qualifiés pour la CAN 2025 qui aura lieu au Maroc du 21 décembre 2025 au 18 janvier 2026

🇲🇦 Maroc (pays hôte)
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🇨🇲 Cameroun
🇨🇩 RD Congo
🇩🇿 Algérie
🇸🇳 Sénégal
🇪🇬 Égypte
🇦🇴 Angola
🇬🇶 Guinée équatoriale
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
🇬🇦 Gabon
⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rd6YVh0eNI

— LeSiteInfo (@LeSiteInfoFR) November 19, 2024

Secondly, humility must return to the squad’s approach, avoiding overconfidence against any opponent.

Lastly, the Elephants need to reignite their competitive spirit, bringing back the relentless drive that secured their last title.

The foundation is there for Ivory Coast to retain its crown,” concludes Dedi.

But staying on top demands renewed focus, hard work, and discipline.”

Terrible 😱 ! 𝟐𝐞̀𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐞́𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 ! 😭

Faé Emerse et la Côte d’Ivoire enchaînent une deuxième défaite de suite dans les phases éliminatoires de la CAN 2025 :

15-11-24 🆕
▪️#Zambie 🇿🇲 1-0 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire

15-10-24
▪️Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 1-0 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire pic.twitter.com/ZLHkCxsFJU

— Le Meilleur Consultant (@consultant225) November 15, 2024