Cote d’Ivoire coach says only Cup will satisfy his ambitious charges

Coach Herve Renard warned on Tuesday that only the Africa Cup of Nations’ title would now satisfy the growing ambitions of his new-look Cote d’Ivoire.

The Elephants, winners of the competition in 1992, will tackle DR Congo tonight for a place in this weekend’s final.

And Renard, who led Zambia to the 2012 African trophy at the expense of the Ivory Coast, said his side has blossomed in the past few weeks.

“A few weeks ago, we were just the underdogs. But in football, a lot of things happen so fast,” said Renard, who took over as coach in July 2014. “When we started this tournament, all the teams were at par. We’re now one of four remaining teams and the best position is No. 1.

“I’m only interested in winning (the cup), any other thing I won’t be satisfied with,” he said at a media briefing at the Estadio de Bata. The 46-year-old Frenchman also admitted the style of the Ivory Coast has changed from previous tournaments.

With the great Didier Drogba and Didier Zokora having retired since last year’s World Cup in Brazil, the Toure brothers — Yaya and Kolo — are the only men in the Elephants’ squad who featured in the 2006 Cup of Nations final.

That penalty shoot-out defeat to Egypt in Cairo and the dramatic loss to Zambia in the 2012 final in Libreville are as close as the Ivorians have come to winning the continental crown for the first time since 1992.

DIFFERENT STYLE

“We now have a different style from the Ivory Coast of the past,” said Renard. “We have some new players, some of whom you only got to know at this competition. But they worked hard during the preparations.

“We now have a balance of hard workers and talented players. This is perfect for the Ivory Coast.”

Renard’s team will face a DRC team who stunned them 4-3 in a qualifying match in Abidjan in October and the Frenchman praised the attacking play of his opponents.

“They are very dangerous offensively and fast on the wings. (Dieumerci) Mbokani is a powerful striker, who is good in the air and keeps the ball,” he remarked.

“They have been used to playing together as the base is TP Mazembe and their team spirit is very high.”

DRC coach Florent Ibenge maintained his team would not be intimidated. “We won’t have any complex against Ivory Coast and their big names - Gervinho, Yaya Toure,” he said.

“We respect them. They have great careers overseas but on the day it will be 11 Congolese against 11 Ivorians,” said Ibenge.

The Leopards defeated the Ivorians in Abidjan in the qualifiers, but Ibenge said he will not read too much into that result.

“This will be a different match as no two matches are ever the same. This is a new game and a new opponent,” he said.

“It was great to win in Abidjan, it was good for the fans and history. But Ivory Coast have changed a lot since then especially in the centre of defence where Kolo Toure has returned, and they are no longer conceding many goals.

“It will be tough for us because they are a better team than they were during the qualifiers.

“But we will play and we want to win. Not many expected us to reach this stage and they are already happy for us.”

Meanwhile, Cote d’Ivoire will be gunning for revenge in tonight’s semi-final after a stunning home loss in a qualifier between them last October.

GRADEL'S WONDER GOAL

“We hurt their pride when we beat them at home, the big Ivory Coast. They had not lost at home during the generation of Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure. They will now want to avenge that loss,” said DR Congo coach Florent Ibenge referring to the famous 4-3 qualifying triumph.

“But we are also armed with the motivation to reach the final. That is our target.”

Max-Alain Gradel fired a wonder goal against Cameroon for the 1992 African champions to win Group D in Equatorial Guinea and he said Ivory Coast want to go all the way after they were regarded as favourites in previous editions of the competition without ever lifting the trophy.