CAN 2008 Preview: Guinea - Ivory Coast

Odds In Ivorians' Favour

There are very few games in global football these days that you could confidently say should go this way or that way. However, this quarterfinal encounter between these two West African teams is perhaps one such match.

The Ivorians, for their part, have sent the strongest message out about their intentions to lift the African Nations Cup at the end of the tournament.

The team has been dominant in all their games so far in this tournament. Most recently, a 3-0 victory over Mali in a game they did not need to win, contested with a partially second-string lineup, showed the depth within this Ivorian side.

They have run through all their opponents with a certain ease that makes one wonder if any team can stop them from winning this championship. Their game play has been consistent and cohesive, with the players showing real commitment to the team's overall cause of lifting the trophy.

However, coach Gerard Gili has affected modesty over his side's chances in today’s game, but he must truly be confident of The Elephants' abilities to clinch this one.

"We will go into this game with no apprehension but with a lot of respect for our opponents," Coach Gerard Gili told Reuters.

"We know it is going to be a difficult game as it's a knockout match and we will remain humble. However, we have a squad that has long been preparing for this type of encounter." he added

Searching For A Semi-Final Spot

But somewhere in Sekondi, another Frenchman, Robert Nouzaret, is plotting the downfall of this dominant Elephant; a team he has had two previous spells with as head coach.

However, he admitted that meeting them later on would have been better.

He told Reuters, “I am happy to meet them, of course, but I would have preferred to play them in the final in Accra. However, playing Ivory Coast is a good thing for my players.

"They know there is no room for mistake against such a team so I think they will be all the more focused."

The Syli Stars of Guinea bounced back from a poor opening performance to end the hopes of the Atlas Lions of Morocco by reaching the quarterfinal stage.

The Guineans came into this tournament with their eyes firmly set on a semi-final spot. But what stands between them and that goal is an Ivorian side that has yet to drop a point so far.

Life Without Pascal!

Pascal Feindounou will be furious with himself for that careless action during the game against Morocco that has confined him to the stands for this one.

The inspirational captain is undoubtedly the driving force behind this Guinean side; this was extremely evident in the team’s game against Namibia, for which he was suspended. They lacked cohesion and purpose in their gameplay without the highly talented midfielder. Thus, it will be interesting to see how they play today against a turbo charged Ivory Coast side.

But Souleyman Youla has promised that the Guineans would seek a win even without the St Ettiene man.

"When he is on the field, every ball goes through him," admitted Youla.

"Everybody knows how important a player Pascal is but we don't have a choice, we have to win without him and welcome him back for the semi-finals."

On paper, the Ivorians ought to be scared of the Syli Stars, as they are placed two spots below them in the continent on the current FIFA ranking. But surely even the Guineans won’t be thinking of that now. They would be more interested in perpetuating the biggest upset possible in this year’s tournament.

TEAM NEWS

Guinea

Bulky Celtic defender Bobo Balde is doubtful for this one as he is still nursing a thigh injury he picked up the team’s last game against Namibia. Thus the vice-captain may join suspended captain Feindouno on the sidelines.

Aside from these two issues, the Guinean side have few worries, as the squad is still intact.

In goal for the Stars should be Kemoko Camara, who is presently unattached to any club.

The defence of the team should be marshaled by stand-in-captain Dianbobo Balde (barring injuries) along with Mamadou Dioulde Bah, Ibrahima Camara, and Oumar Kalabane.

The midfield would be held by Mohamed Sacko, with Daouda Jabi providing support in the defensive midfield position for the Guineans. Ismael Bangoura and Naby Soumah should feeding the attack line from out wide.

The attack Guineans is likely to be led by the French-based duo of Fode Mansare and Souleyman Youla.

The Guineans would play a 4-4-2 formation on paper, but I am almost certain Robert Nouzaret would field only Souleyman Youla up front, with Fode Mansare dropping back to help the midfield for a good part of the game.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Kemoko Camara (unattached), Naby Diarso (Satellite FC, Guinea), Naby Yattara (RACS Couillet, Belgium)

Defenders: Dianbobo Balde (Celtic, Scotland) Habib Jean Balde (Reims, France) Alseny Camara (Rodez, France) Ibrahima Camara (Le Mans, France) Mamadou Dioulde Bah (Racing Strasbourg, France) Mohamed Alimou Diallo (Sivasspor, Turkey) Daouda Jabi (Trabzonspor, Turkey) Oumar Kalabane (Manisaspor, Turkey)
Kamil Zayatte (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland)

Midfielders: Mohamed Cisse (Bursaspor, Turkey) Pascal Feindouno (St Etienne, France) Samuel Johnson (Ismaili, Egypt) Mohamed Sacko (Etoile Sahel, Tunisia) Naby Soumah (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia) Kanfory Sylla (Sivasspor, Turkey)

Strikers: Ismael Bangoura (Dynamo Kiev, Russia) Karamoko Cisse (Verona, Italy) Victor Correa (Cherbourg, France) Fode Mansare (Toulouse, France) Souleymane Youla (Lille, France)

Ivory Coast

There is still no tangible news as to the fitness state of Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, so Marco Zoro may continue after a positive showing against Mali.

Most of the regulars that were rested in the game against Mali should be back in the starting line-up.

In goal for the Ivorians we should expect to see Boubacar Barry.

The defence would be composed of Arsenal fullback Emmanuel Eboue, Marc Zoro, Arthur Boka, and Abdoulaye Meite of Bolton Wanderers.

Yaya Toure will undoubtedly beat the heart of the Ivorian midfield, alongside Emerse Fae and Didier Zokora.

The attack line is almost certain to be headed by captain Didier Drogba, along with his Chelsea team mate Salomon Kalou and Haruna Dindane of Racing Lens.

Gerard Gili would stick with his 4-3-3 formation.

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)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Guinea - Souleyman Youla: The Lille striker is a potential threat to the defence of the Ivorians, and if the Guineans are to create an upset in today’s encounter, he should be the one getting the decisive goal(s).

Ivory Coast - Yaya Toure: The Barcelona midfielder has been the architect of the Ivorian game pattern so far in this tournament. His ability to drag opponents away and create spaces for his teammates, as well as his ability to hold on to the ball, has been the determining factor of the Ivorian game so far. He will be instrumental to his team’s success today.

PREDICTION

This game should go in favor of the Ivorians; all the odds are stacked in favor of the Elephants. I do not really see the Guineans creating an upset in this encounter. Nonetheless, the Elephants can't rest on their laurels.

Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea