Cote d'Ivoire Football Team

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General Information

Country – Ivory Coast
Capital City – Yamoussoukro
Continent –Africa
Manager – Henri Michel – Former France Manager & Captain

Team History

Founded 1960
Affiliated 1960
WC participations NONE
WC honours NONE
Continental Titles Cup of Nations (1992)

World Cup Record:
1930 to 1970 - Did not enter
1974 - Did not qualify
1978 - Did not qualify
1982 - Did not enter
1986 to 2002 - Did not qualify
2006 - Qualified

COTE d'IVOIRE Football Team for 2006 FIFA World Cup

Manager:
Henri Michel

Goalkeepers: Jean Jacques Tizie, Gerard Gnanhouan, Boubacar Copa Barry.

Defenders:
Cyrille Domoraud, Blaise Kouassi, Abdoulaye Meite, Kanga Gauthier Akale, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Marc Zoro.

Midfielders:
Didier Zokora, Emerse Fae, Kanga Gauthier Akale, Ndri Koffi Romaric, Gnegneri Yaya Toure, Guy Roland Demel, Gilles Yapi Yapo

Forwards:
Bonaventure Kalou, Arouna Kone, Didier Drogba, Bakary Kone, Aruna Dindane, Abdul Kader Keita.

Cote d'Ivoire Statistics Participating for the First time in the World Cup Finals in Group C with Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands
The team is known as 'Elephants'
Jersey No. Name of the Player
1 Jean Jacques Tizie
2 Etienne Arthur Boka
3 Kanga Gauthier Akale
4 Kolo Toure
5 Didier Zokora
6 Blaise Kouassi
7 Emerse Fae
8 Bonaventure Kalou
9 Arouna Kone
10 Gilles Yapi Yapo
11 Didier Drogba
12 Abdoulaye Meite
13 Marc Zoro
14 Bakary Kone
15 Aruna Dindane
16 Gerard Gnanhouan
17 Cyrille Domoraud
18 Abdul Kader Keita
19 Gnegneri Yaya Toure
20 Guy Roland Demel
21 Emmanuel Eboue
22 Ndri Koffi Romaric
23 Boubacar Copa Barry

Cote d'Ivoire is playing in Group C along with Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands. This time, Group C is considered the "Group of Death". They are nicknamed 'the Elephants'. Cote d'Ivoire is amongst the four African teams to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

During the qualifiers, the Ivorians had a tough competition in front of them. They had to face Cameroon, Egypt, Sudan and Libya. Cameroon had five appearances and Egypt had two appearances in the FIFA World Cup finals to their credit. The Ivorians had only the African Cup of Nation's title achieved in Senegal in 1992 to its credit. The Ivorians had also failed to qualify for the last Nations Cup in Tunisia.

The team registered four wins and only one-defeat in the opening five matches. The highlight was their 2-1 victory in Cairo. In the second half of the qualifiers, they emerged as the leaders of Group 3. They defeated Benin in a 3-0 home victory. They managed only a 0-0 draw against Libya in Tripoli.

The match against Cameroon was considered the 'group final'. The Lions defeated the Elephants with a 3-2 victory. But Cameroon could not cross the final hurdle. Côte d'Ivoire defeated Sudan 3-1. Cameroon had a 1-1 draw with Egypt. This way the Ivorians got their qualification for the finals. Cote d'Ivoire is better known for its individuals than its team. The star players of the team are defenders Kolo Toure and Cyrille Domoraud. Didier Drogba and Aruna Dindane are other players to watch this season.