Cote d'Ivoire boss Gasset urges team to relish Nigeria fight at Cup of Nations

Cote d'Ivoire head coach Jean-Louis Gasset on Wednesday called on his players to embrace the challenge of facing tournament favourites Nigeria in  their second game before their frenzied fans at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Jean-Louis Gasset (left) is tryin to lead Cote d'Ivoire to their third title at the Africa Cup of Nations. AP - Sunday Alamba

The Ivorians go into Thursday's clash at the Alassane Outtara Stadium in pole position in Group A following a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau on the opening day of the tournament on 13 January.

Seko Fofana unleashed a piledriver after four minutes to launch the hosts' campaign and Jean-Philippe Krasso's acrobatics in the penalty area provided the second goal just before the hour mark.

Nigeria could only draw 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea even though they dominated possession for the majority of the encounter and enjoyed numerous chances to score.

But despite the profligacy of the Nigerian strikers, Gasset warned his charges they would be in for a tough battle.

"Nigeria have lots of talented players," added the 70-year-old Frenchman. "We wil be facing one of the teams with the potential to win the title.

"We must improve our technique and be quicker in the transitions from defence to attack and vice vera."

Success

Victory over their regional rivals would assure Cote d'Ivoire of a place in the last-16 knockout stages as they try to lift the Cup of Nations title for the third time.

"It's the first time that I've played at a home Cup of Nations," said veteran Ivorian striker Max Gradel.

"I wish I could do it every two years! It has been a special experience for the group and I hope we can make the fans happy by winning the cup."

Nigeria's stalemate against Equatorial Guinea on 14 January raised eyebrows. But the result has been gradually contextualised following draws for other title favourites Egypt and Algeria against supposed minnows Mozambique and Angola.

Cup of Nations stalwarts such as Ghana and Tunisia fared even worse fats losing their opening matches to Cape Verde and Namibia respectively.

Challenge

"It will be a hard match against a very good team," said the Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro.

"It will be a fantastic atmosphere in a full stadium. We need to play a very good match and it will be important to keep our style."

Peseiro came under fire for his tactics following the draw at the Alassane Outtara Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Though star striker Victor Osimhen scored, he and his teammates were guilty of squandering an array of presentable chances.

"Obviously our finishing was the problem during the first match," Peseiro conceded.

"Everyone could see we were much better than Equatorial Guinea but we didn't score the goals to prove that.

"We must calm down."

Even if Nigeria were to lose on Thursday afternoon, they will have a last gasp  for redemption in their final Group A game against Guinea Bissau on 22 January.

Victory would give them four points and a fighting chance of advancing to the last-16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.

"It will be difficult," admitted Nigeria skipper William Ekong. "Cote d'Ivoire have lots of quality and they were clinical in the final third against Guinea Bissau.

"But we have many players who play in big stadiums in front of big crowds and that can help for a game like this."