Often tipped as the African side with the biggest chance of winning the World Cup, Cote d’Ivoire have named an initial group of players to take to Brazil, with 28 players currently on the list – which will have to be cut to 23 before they make the trip to South America.
Manager Sabri Lamouchi has been able to call upon a large number of strikers such as Didier Drogba, Wilfried Bony, Seydou Doumbia and Lacina Traore, whilst other big names like Kolo Toure, Cheick Tiote, Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Salomon Kalou are also in the squad.
However, former Arsenal right back Eboue has been left out, and his place in the defence will almost certainly be handed to Gunners target Serge Aurier, who has had an excellent season in France with Toulouse.
Ivory Coast head into the 2014 FIFA World Cup with grounded expectations but in full knowledge they can spring a fair share of upsets on Brazilian soil.
The Elephants topped their Confederation of African Football second-round qualifying group with four wins and two draws from six matches, before waltzing beyond Senegal in the continental play-offs 4-2 on aggregate.
Competitive fixtures against Japan, Greece and Colombia await Lamouchi’s team, which are more than capable of making the knockout stage. He has revealed a 28-man provisional squad in anticipation of next month’s tournament.
Cote d’Ivoire have some unfinished business at the FIFA World Cup, having been dumped out at the group stage on the two occasions they have qualified.
In 2006, defeats to Argentina and Netherlands in their opening two fixtures spelled the end of their debut tournament, while in 2010 they were once again unfortunate to be drawn alongside two global heavyweights in the form of Brazil and Portugal, who ultimately progressed from a group also including North Korea.
The going should be substantially comfortable for Cote d’Ivoire this time round, given they have been placed in Group C alongside Colombia, Greece and Japan, a trio who pose much less of a threat than in their two previous World Cup groups.
Much of the expectation lies heavily on the shoulders of former Chelsea superstar Didier Drogba. He is his country’s all-time record goalscorer with sixty-three goals to his caps for The Elephants. Aside from Drogba, Cote d’Ivoire boast of some talented players, such as Manchester City’s power house Yaya Touré, and ex-Arsenal winger Gervinho, who has set Serie A alight with Roma this season.
Quick Facts:
Best World Cup Result: Group Stage (2006, 2010)
Best Africa Cup of Nations Result: Winners (1992)
Record Scorer: Didier Drogba (63)
Most Capped Player: Didier Zokora (118)
Coach: Sabri Lamouchi
Captain: Didier Drogba
Preliminary squad named by coach Lamouchi
Goalkeepers: Copa Barry (Lokeren), Gbohouo Sylvain (Sewe Sport), Sayouba Mandé (Stabaek), Badra Ali (ASEC Mimosas).
Defenders: Kolo Touré (Liverpool), Sol Bamba (Trabzonspor), Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro (Toulouse), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Serge Aurier (Toulouse), Brice Dja Djédjé (Marseille), Didier Zokora (Trabzonspor), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes), Ousman Vieira (Caykur Rizespor).
Midfielders: Cheik Tioté (Newcastle), Yaya Touré (Manchester City), Romaric (Bastia), Max-Alain Gradel (St-Etienne), Ismaël Diomandé (St-Etienne), Didier Ya Konan (Hannover), Constant Djakpa (Eintracht Frankfurt), Geoffroy Serey Dié (Basel).
Strikers: Wilfried Bony (Swansea), Didier Drogba (Galatasaray), Gervinho (Roma), Giovanni Sio (Basel), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow), Lacina Traoré (Monaco), Salomon Kalou (Lille).
Anthony Nlebem