Cote d’Ivoire’s Football History
Cote d’Ivoire’s national football team is popularly known as “Les Elephants” (The Elephants). It is controlled by the Federation Ivoirienne de Football and represents the country in all international football tournaments. Participation in the World Football Cup started in the year 2006 and the team has qualified for the mega tournament three times till date.
In the Confederations Cup, it only participated once in 1992 and since then it has not been able to qualify. In the Africa Cup of Nations, the regional tournament which occurs once in two years, the team started contesting from 1965 and has appeared in 20 tournaments till date. Their first international match was against Dahomey on 13th April, 1960, at Madagascar. Cote d’Ivoire won the match by 3-2. Among their total wins, their biggest win margin-wise was 11-0 against Central African Republic on 27 December, 1961 at Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The national football team of Ivory Coast has been placed at 17th position in World Football Rankings which is the first position among African nations. The team also holds the 21st rank in World football Elo Ratings. The national under-23 football team participated in 2008 Summer Olympics but was defeated by Nigeria in the quarter-finals. Besides this, the national team also participated in other tournaments like Afro-Asian Cup of Nations, CECAFA Cup (Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations), CEDEAO Cup and Toulon tournament which are held in France every year. The team holds impressive records in the above-mentioned tournaments.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Success Story
Ivory Coast is currently one of the best soccer teams in Africa but unfortunately lacks any notable performance in the World Football Cup. It finished at fourth place in the Confederations Cup in 1992. The only successful achievement so far is in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament where it became champions in 1992, finished as runners-up twice in 2006 and 2012, gained the third position four times (1965, 1968, 1986 and 1994) and the fourth position in 1970 and 2008, respectively. Apart from this, it emerged as champions in the CEDEAO Cup three times and once in the Toulon Tournament. Taking the football craze and determination forward, the team has qualified for the upcoming World Football Cup which will be held in Brazil next year.
Côte d’Ivoire squad: |
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| Goalkeepers: | Boubacar Barry Sayouba Mande Sylvain Gbohouo Ali Badra Sangare |
Defenders: | Kolo Toure Arthur Boka Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro Serge Aurier Ousmane Viera Diarrassouba Didier Zokora Constant Djakpa Brice Dja Djedje Benjamin Angoua Brou Bamba Souleymane |
| Midfielders: | Ismael Diomande Max Gradel Yaya Toure Cheick Tiote Geoffroy Serey Die Didier Ya Konan |
Forwards: | Didier Drogba Gervinho Salomon Kalou Wilfried Bony Giovanni Sio Mathis Bolly Seydou Doumbia Lacina Traore |
Cote d’Ivoire’s Performance in all World Football Cups :
| World Football Cup Year | World Football Cup Hosting Nation | World Football Cup Qualification | Quarter Final Birth | Semi Final Birth | Third Place Secured | Reached Final | Title Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | South Africa | Yes | No | – | – | – | – |
| 2006 | Germany | Yes | No | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | South Korea | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1998 | France | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1994 | United States | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1990 | Italy | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1986 | Mexico | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1982 | Spain | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1978 | Argentina | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1974 | West Germany | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1970 | Mexico | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1966 | England | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1962 | Chile | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1958 | Sweden | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1950 | Brazil | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1938 | France | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1934 | Italy | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 19 World Football Cups | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |