Ivory Coast’s 2015 Women’s World Cup Journey Ends After Defeat to Thailand
Ivory Coast’s campaign at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada came to an early end following a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Thailand. The defeat confirmed their exit from the tournament after an earlier heavy 10-0 loss to Germany.
Despite their disappointment, Ivory Coast showed resilience in their second group match. Speaking after the game, team captain Clémentine reflected on the team’s efforts: “After the heavy defeat against Germany, we gave everything tonight to get back into the race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. We hit the crossbar three times, and luck really wasn’t on our side. Ultimately, we didn’t score enough goals.” She added that the team felt the loss keenly, recognising they missed key opportunities. “It’s a shame for our country because we could have won this match. We simply lacked realism.”
The Ivory Coast side remain optimistic about their future. “Beyond this World Cup, we have the ambition to become a competitive team in the coming years,” Clémentine said, signalling a commitment to growth and development in women’s football back home.
Thailand, meanwhile, celebrated a historic victory. The 3-2 win marked the first-ever World Cup victory for the Asian nation’s women’s team, providing a major boost to their campaign and belief in their ability to compete on the world stage.
Thailand’s coach, Nuengrutai Srathongvian, praised her players’ determination and expressed pride in their achievement. “This is the first time that our country has pocketed three points in a World Cup. We were very, very lucky,” she admitted, acknowledging the narrow margin of their success. “We had fewer chances, but we still obtained the first victory in the history of Thailand.”
Srathongvian also paid tribute to Ivory Coast’s performance. “We respected the Ivorians because they played very well,” she said, emphasising the competitive nature of the match.
Looking ahead, Thailand prepare to face the tournament favourites, Germany, in their next group fixture. “It is an honour to face Germany, the best team in the world, for our next match. We will do everything to live up to it,” Srathongvian added.
As the group stage progresses, Ivory Coast reflect on the lessons learned from a tough World Cup debut, while Thailand look forward with renewed hope and determination. The tournament continues to highlight the growing competitiveness and global reach of women’s football.
