A tournament tarnished by the carnage of the last seven days at the African Nations Cup, after initially set to be a remarkable success story, could still resurrect itself with a dream final tomorrow.
Ghana against the Ivory Coast in Bata has the potential to provide a stunning finale after the negative headlines that have dominated the last week.
The west African neighbours are established African footballing superpowers and boast being among the most exciting squads at the tournament.
Yet neither were counted among the favourites coming into the tournament with both clearly undergoing what Ivorian coach Herve Renard terms a “re-construction”.
For the Ivorians, post World Cup life without Didier Drogba has proven a rudderless seven months and for Renard it has been a slog to try and establish hegemony over a group of superstars.
“When there is a big squad like we have sometimes, especially in Africa, when they come back to their country they think sometimes they are the king. A lot of them. But usually there can only be one king per territory,” he said before the tournament.
But as the event in Equatorial Guinea has unfolded so the coach seems to have galvanised his players in the same direction.
Renard was still bemoaning a lack of concentration and discipline even after an imposing 3-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Wednesday’s semifinal but despite himself, at the same time, could not help also purring about his players.
“When you’ve got Gervinho, Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony in your team you always have a chance.”
Indeed it is their attacking trio that will be at the centre of the Ivorian planning, just as Asamoah Gyan, Christian Atsu and Dede Ayew will be for the Black Stars.
Ghana’s tournament offers redemption for the farce of Brazil when they went on strike for money and a jet had to be dispatched from Accra with cash to pay the players. Clandestine Brazilian television coverage of the Ghana players kissing bricks of cash caused an uproar in the west African country.
“We know our fans have been cross with us but we have been working hard to get back their confidence,” said Gyan.
Final hurdle for big guns
Ghana against the Ivory Coast in Bata has the potential to provide a stunning finale after the negative headlines that have dominated the last week.
The west African neighbours are established African footballing superpowers and boast being among the most exciting squads at the tournament.
Yet neither were counted among the favourites coming into the tournament with both clearly undergoing what Ivorian coach Herve Renard terms a “re-construction”.
For the Ivorians, post World Cup life without Didier Drogba has proven a rudderless seven months and for Renard it has been a slog to try and establish hegemony over a group of superstars.
“When there is a big squad like we have sometimes, especially in Africa, when they come back to their country they think sometimes they are the king. A lot of them. But usually there can only be one king per territory,” he said before the tournament.
But as the event in Equatorial Guinea has unfolded so the coach seems to have galvanised his players in the same direction.
Renard was still bemoaning a lack of concentration and discipline even after an imposing 3-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Wednesday’s semifinal but despite himself, at the same time, could not help also purring about his players.
“When you’ve got Gervinho, Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony in your team you always have a chance.”
Indeed it is their attacking trio that will be at the centre of the Ivorian planning, just as Asamoah Gyan, Christian Atsu and Dede Ayew will be for the Black Stars.
Ghana’s tournament offers redemption for the farce of Brazil when they went on strike for money and a jet had to be dispatched from Accra with cash to pay the players. Clandestine Brazilian television coverage of the Ghana players kissing bricks of cash caused an uproar in the west African country.
“We know our fans have been cross with us but we have been working hard to get back their confidence,” said Gyan.
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