Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal will resume what is a long standing west African rivalry in their 2014 FIFA World Cup final round qualifier starting in Abidjan on Saturday.
The pair have been squaring off for almost 50 years, but few matches have been quite as important as this tie to decide which of them will go to Brazil.
If their most recent battles are anything to go by then it will be a feisty affair, with the Ivorians having disposed of Senegal 6-2 on aggregate in the qualifiers for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations this time last year.
It was during the second leg of that tie that Senegalese fans went on a riot, leading to a year-long ban from playing matches at home in front of their own supporters.
Cote d’Ivoire coach Sabri Lamouchi has made a number of changes to his squad for the first leg. Liverpool’s Kolo Toure has earned a recall for the first time in nine months after he was dropped from the team following their disappointing stint at the Nations Cup in 2013.
Also back for the Elephants is Saint Etienne’s Max Gradel, who returns from a long lay-off. The versatile player has been a regular in the starting eleven following his impressive performances in 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
There was a slight concern this week over the fitness of in-form Roma striker Gervinho, though it looks as though he will be fit to play if selected.
Senegal coach Alain Giresse controversially left out striker Demba Ba was his squad, something that has pleased Lamouchi.
“The absence of Demba Ba is a good thing for us,” said Lamouchi. “But there are other talented players in the Senegal team. We will have to remain very focused and determined.”
Cote d’Ivoire breezed through their qualification pool that also included Morocco, Tanzania and Gambia.
It was harder for Senegal, who had to avoid defeat in their final pool phase match against Uganda to advance, and managed to win 1-0.
These two sides have met on 16 previous occasions in official FIFA matches, with the Ivorians leading the head-to-head 10-4 and just two matches drawn. Senegal’s last victory came in a 1-0 success in Tours in 2006.
Meanwhile, One of the symbols of the new generation called-up by national coach Sabri Lamouchi, in the aftermaths of a disappointing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations’ campaign, is Toulouse defender Serge Aurier.
“Fear is on the side of the Senegalese. I have some friends in the Ligue 1 who have admitted it and I think that it is a good sign for us,” said the young defender after their first training session. And at only 20 years of age, Aurier has demonstrated a surprising serenity before the crucial encounter.
“There is no pressure to feel coming up against Senegal. We know that it is a very important game, but we need to remain calm and quietly prepare to be able to perform on D-Day,” added Aurier.
“For us, who recently joined the national team, it is very exciting to feel so close in qualifying for the World Cup. It is an honour to contribute to one of the best teams in the world in helping reach that objective.”
As for veteran left-back Arthur Boka, he is aiming for his third consecutive World Cup finals appearance, and promised the Ivoirian faithful that they will be in Brazil next year.
“I want to tell the Ivorians that we are confident so they must not be worried. We are going to take this game as it comes and without pressure. I think that victory will be there at the end,” assured the former ASEC Mimosas’ defender.
