Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire Profile
TEAM FACTS:
Coach: Vahid Halilhodžiæ
Captain: Didier Drogba
Star players: Didier Drogba, Salamon Kalou, Yaya Toure
Team nickname: Les Éléphants
Titles held: African Cup of Nations 1992
FIFA ranking: 22
Ivory Coast is an African powerhouse who is set to make a big impact on the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Many see them as the most likely candidates to take the gold. Their starting eleven feature world class talent, who all play outside Africa, it is no wonder they have high hopes. Les Eléphants also have a point to prove after their early elimination from the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
"At the last World Cup we played really well, but we were unlucky because we were in a very tough group with Argentina and Holland and went out in the first round. But I think with this kind of experience, it will be possible at South Africa 2010 to do much better. Perhaps we can make the quarter-finals and then semi-finals; this is something we can achieve," captain Didier Drogba said (according to Fifa.com).
Four years on, with players that are more experienced and more skillful, Côte d’Ivoire will surely prove to be a handful to their competitors. The emerging players will also have something to prove by showing the world what they are made of.
Côte d'Ivoire qualified with much ease without losing a match. During qualifications, they beat Burkina Faso and Guinea. There was one moment where their qualification was unclear and staying true to his legacy captain, Didier Drogba did exactly what his team needed. His dramatic equaliser against Malawi, after being on the bench, was what secured the point they needed to qualify. Drogba was the top scorer with six goals in five matches.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will only be their second appearance at the World Cup tournament and this time they definitely have the ammunition to make it to the final. Their ammunition includes the formidable pair of Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou that rules in front of the goal. Didiier Zokora and Yaya Toure offer support in the midfield, while Emmanuel Eboue, Kolo Toure and Arthur Boka form one of the best defenses in Africa.
Les Eléphants is the first national team Bosnian born coach, Vahid Halilhodzic has coached. He assumed his position after the 2008 CAF African Cup of Nations. Halilhodzic played in the Yugoslavian team that crashed out of the group stage of the 1982 FIFA World Cup on goal difference. He has spent most of his coaching career traveling and coaching clubs mainly in France where he was with Lille, Rennes and Paris St. Germain. He has certainly made his mark in international football because Les Éléphants are undefeated since a 1-0 friendly loss in Japan just after he took over.
While in Nelson Mandela Bay for the match between Côte d’Ivoire and Portugal on 15 June, take the time to indulge in the pleasure of being in a place that combines big city living with small town values:
See the sun set on a veld covered with flowers and wild plants, watch wild animals run free and experience the thrill of watching a shark pass your boat; all this can be done in the malaria free area of Nelson Mandela Bay. The Addo Elephant National Park, an hour’s drive from the city centre, caters for all animal lovers. Enjoy the Big 7, consisting of elephant, rhino, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark, in their natural habitat in an open vehicle or guided walk.
If marine life fascinates you, then diving in Nelson Mandela Bay is a must. Beautiful reefs, interesting shipwrecks from years gone by, colourful soft coral species and the warm water of Algoa Bay will keep you in the water for hours. Surfing, wind surfing, jet skiing and sailing can also be enjoyed in the Bay.
A delicious steak covered in a creamy mushroom sauce, chicken and prawn curry, an espetada done in a red wine sauce, sushi, or a decadent piece of double chocolate cake; will satisfy the fussiest palate. Nelson Mandela Bay has the highest capita ratio of restaurants per population in South Africa and with all that variety; everyone will definitely find something to suite their taste.
A vibrant array of night clubs to dance the night away, pubs where you can enjoy a beer and a game of pool, and award-winning cocktail bars that serve anything from a banana split martini to bubblegum bazooka; make Nelson Mandela Bay a popular party destination.
For the art lover, there are many theatre shows, museums, and art galleries in and around the Bay. Cinemas that show both the new and the old invite all for time to escape to a world that fulfills all your dreams.
For more information on the above activities or more activities on offer in Nelson Mandela Bay contact Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism on +27 (0) 41 582 2575 or email info@nmbt.co.za.