voldemort

History in favor of Elephants

Ivory Coast were not at their spectacular best in their opening game fixture against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but a wonder-strike from Chelsea's Salomon Kalou gave them the full three points. The Ivorians come into this championship as the strongest favorites to win the trophy, and that conviction still pervades the air around their Sekondi base after their narrow, yet deserved win.

The Elephants were more tactically disciplined in their encounter against their West African neighbors, and they didn't lose their heads once throughout the tension-filled match.

The Ivorian team is composed of players who hold down regular spots at top European club sides. However, their talismanic captain Didier Drogba was not so effective in the Nigerian game, and he will hope to be in top form for this encounter as a substitute.

It would take a very strong and disciplined side to stop the Elephants in their quest of lifting the trophy for only the second time in their history. They have found a way around the flamboyant Nigerian side; next up is the Squirrels of Benin.

The Beninoise team played out an admirable game against their Malian opponents, but just lacked the experience and quality to take the match.

As an example, Helsingborg forward Razak Omotoyossi was everywhere on the pitch, but unfortunately his game tended to be a bit selfish, rather wanting to do it all by himself.

The team’s Brazilian born coach, Reinhard Fabisch, will surely not be too impressed with the performance of his star forward in that match.

The sides have met eight times in the past, with the Ivorians winning six of those encounters.

Benin will have to go way back to the June 1979 to find their last victory against the Elephants. They pipped the Ivorians by a lone goal in Lome in an African Nation’s Cup qualifying encounter.

The Ivorians have it all going for them in terms of past history going into this game and, based on the present situatation, they will be confident about getting the three full points in this one.

The Beninoise team, making only their second appearance at the championships, know that they have to get a result from this game to stand any realistic chance of progressing to the next round of the competition, but the odds are stacked against them.

This game is vital to both sides and we should expect to see some physical midfield play.

TEAM NEWS

Ivory Coast

Coach Gerald Gili should retain his starting line-up for this one. The only possible change could be in the attacking line, with Sevilla striker Arouna Kone coming on for Didier Drogba.

29-year old Barry Boubacar should remain in between the goal post for the Elephants. The Belgian-based goalkeeper, previously regarded as the weakest link in the Ivorian side, made some inspiring saves in the team’s 1-0 victory over the Nigerians, notably the one-on-one stop to deny Obafemi Martins in the second half.

Centre back Kolo Toure and Abdoulaye Meite of Bolton should lead the Ivorian defensive line. Toure’s Arsenal teammate, Emmanuel Eboue, will hold the right-back slot, while the diminutive but effective Arthur Boka should stay at the left side.

Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure was the key man for the Ivorians against Nigeria. He held the ball well, tackled decisively and put in the passes for his team mates. He should surely be leading the Ivorian midfield against the Squirrels alongside Tottenham’s defensive influence Didier Zokora.

In the offensive midfield position, Coach Gili might decide to start with French-based Abdelkader Keita ahead of Steve Gohouri.

The three man attack should include goal-scorer in their first game, Salomon Kalou, along with Arouna Kone and Aruna Dindane.

Coach Gerald Gili will most likely employ a familiar 4-3-3 formation, or the more fanciful 4-3-2-1 counter attacking pattern. But whatever tactics the Frenchman employs, the Ivorians are sure to be a delight to watch.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium) Tiasse Kone (Africa Sports, Cote D'Ivoire) Stephan Loboue (SpVgg Greuther Furth, Germany)

Defenders: Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart, Germany) Constant Djakpa (Pandurii Targu Jiu, Romania) Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England) Steve Gohouri (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany) Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton Wanderers, England) Kolo Toure (Arsenal, England) Marc Zoro (Benfica, Portugal)

Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Reading, England) Christian Koffi Ndri (Le Mans, France) Siaka Tiene (St Etienne, France) Gneri Yaya Toure (Barcelona, Spain) Didier Zokora (Tottenham Hotspur, England)

Strikers: Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens, France) Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England) Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England) Abdelkader Keita (Olympique Lyon, France) Arouna Kone (Sevilla, Spain) Bakary Kone (Nice, France) Gervais Yao Kouassi (Le Mans, France) Boubacar Sanogo (Werder Bremen, Germany)

Benin Republic

The Beninoise team will largely remain unchanged, as the squad that played against Mali is the strongest that Coach Fabisch could possibly line up.

Wikki Tourist of Nigeria goalkeeper, Rachad Chitou, will remain in goal for the squirrels.

In defence, Ivory Coast-based Adbul Adenon should pair up with Alain Adenon Both players are on a yellow card each and must be careful about picking up any further sanctions in this encounter. Damien Chrystosome and Anicet Adjamossi of Creteil in France will complete the defence line up.

Romauld Bocco impressed in the game against Mali and he will lead the team’s midfield against the Elephants. Joining him should be Oumar Tchomongo, Jonas Oketola and probably Mouri Ogunbiyi.

The attacking line will be spearheaded by Razak Omotoyossi, and he should be joined by Jocelyn Ahoueya.

The Squirrels should maintain their 4-4-2 formation, with the two wing backs occasionally making the foray upfront.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Valere Amoussou (Mogas 90, Benin) Rachad Chitou (Wikki Tourists, Nigeria) Yoann Djidonou (Red Star, France)

Defenders: Abdul Adenon (ASEC Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire) Anicet Adjamossi (Creteil, France) Damien Chrystosome (Casale, Italy) Alain Gaspoz (FC Bagnes, Switzerland) Achille Rouga (Stade Rennes, France) Noel Seka (FC Fyn, Denmark) Bio A Traore (Panthres Djougou, Benin)

Midfielders: Jocelyn Ahoueya (FC Sion, Switzerland) Romauld Boco (Accrington Stanley, England) Djiman Koukou (Soleil FC, Benin) Mouri Ogunbiyi (Etoile Sahel, Tunisia) Jonas Oketola (unattached) Stephane Sessegnon (Le Mans, France) Sosthne Soglo (Energie FC, Benin) Seidath Tchomogo (East Riffa, Bahrain)
Strikers: Abou Maiga (Creteil, France) Wassiou Oladipikpo (JS Kabylie, Algeria) Razak Omotoyossi (Helsingborg, Sweden) Abdoulaye Ouzrou (Al Jazeera, UAE) Oumar Tchomogo (Portimonense, Portugal)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ivory Coast -Yaya Toure: The defensive midfielder has been a delight to watch this season with his Spanish side Barcelona. His impressive form has earned him a regular shirt at Camp Nou: no mean feat at all. The player should be the key man for the Ivorians in this game.

Benin - Razak Omotoyossi: The strong forward has set the Swedish league ablaze with goals for his club Helsingborg this season; he has also made a tremendous impact in Europe, leading the goalscoring chart in the UEFA cup. The striker is the main threat in the Beninoise side, and if he picks up his game, he could be a handful for the Ivorians to handle. Selfishness is perhaps his sole downfall.

PREDICTION

This is going to be a very physical game, with tackles flying around. The battle for the midfield is going to be intense. However I expect the Ivorians to get control of that area: once that is done, they will put the Beninoise team on the back foot for the rest of the game. The Elephants should win this one and book their way into the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Benin 0-3 Ivory Coast


source:goal.com