Ivory Coast’s victory over Italy may change things

COMMENT
By Kingsley Kobo

Scarcely watched back home due to widespread indifference, the result of the Italy – Ivory Coast friendly last night came as a surprise to many, including fans and even the Ivorian FA. Although much emphasis for a possible win came from the FA and weighed more on caretaker coach Francois Zahoui, nobody was sure Ivory Coast could take on the four-time world champions. A loss to them wouldn’t have been considered disastrous back in Abidjan.

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Ivory Coast £10.40

Draw £90.00

Tanzania £210.00

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Ivory Coast £10.56

Draw £95.00

Tanzania £230.00

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Ivory Coast £11.00

Draw £90.00

Tanzania £210.00

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Ivory Coast £10.50

Draw £90.00

Tanzania £165.00

Ivory Coast have been parading their best generation of footballers in history but with little positive results and blurred glory, and local fans are getting weary and wary of anything more in view. Conscious of this, the football officials in the west African country are leaving no stone unturned to offer hope to all lovers of the game here, beginning with a post-World Cup era which ushers us into the qualifiers of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations to be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Last night’s 1-0 victory against Italy may yield some positive points and invite fans to have a rethink, but it would take some time to buy back their enthusiasm and get them really settled to follow again.

What the London success might change in Ivory Coast is the perpetual importation of foreign coaches who have not really brought much good – the only trophy won by the Elephants was the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations courtesy of an indigenous coach Yeo Martial. Francois Zahoui may be allowed by the FA to hang on instead of them roaming European cities entreating idle managers to come and make things happen.

If Zahoui could overcome the Azzurri in a match which the 2006 world champions deemed important to their redevelopment, then he can also lead the Elephants across the qualifying campaign and even to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

A new day has dawned in Ivory Coast’s football but only if the FA make the most of it.

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