Ivory Coast’s qualification campaign was not a convincing one, and the trend seems to have continued into the group stage. After finishing a whole four points behind eventual group D winners Cameroon in the previous round, all the games the Elephants have played so far have ended as dull 1-1 draws. It would appear the ghost from their 4-3 embarrassment at the hands on DR Congo in Abidjan during the qualifiers is still haunting them.
That has to be the explanation. Because, how else can one fathom a squad of the quality that IVC currently have failing to register at least a single win from their games against Guinea and Mali? Or is it the sheer vacuum created by Didier Drogba’s departure?
A similar question can be posed to try and decipher Cameroon’s current predicament. Is it that there is simply no talent and presence in the Lions’ current generation that can provide the spark that retired captain Eto’o used to provide?
There is a slight difference in Cameroon’s narrative, though. The Indomitable Lions were not plagued by the same problems that the Elephants faced during the qualification stages. In fact, Cameroon’s road to AFCON 2015 was a very smooth one, as none of the other teams could inflict a single defeat on them all through.
In the group stage, however, the Lions were held by Guinea and Mali just as the Elephants were, recording just two points from the two games. In a strange twist of fate, all the teams in Group D have two points each, having each played two games and drawn all of them 1-1.
When the two ailing giants meet on Wednesday, it will be a chance for the more determined of the two to prove that they deserve their respective reputation as an African football giants. Only time will tell whom that will be.
Cote D'Ivoire vs Cameroon team sheets
Cote D'Ivoire's Starting XI: Gbohouo, Kanon, K. Toure, Baily, Tiene, Aurier, Y. Toure, Serey Die, Doumbia, Gradel, Bony.
Cameroon's Starting XI: Ondoa; Ghihoata, N'Koulou, Chedjou, Bedimo; Salli, M'Bia, Mandjeck, Moukandjo; Choupo-Moting, Etoundi.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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