IVORY Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou has talked about the team's plan for their first match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Image/Ivoirienne de Football
The team, who are the current champions, will play their first game against Mozambique at Stade de Marrakech on Wednesday.
The actual tournament began on Sunday with Morocco beating Comoros 2-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Before their match, Agbadou, who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, said the team is prepared for the challenge.
Ivory Coast and Morocco are not far apart. "I am happy because this is my first AFCON with Ivory Coast... I have been waiting for this moment for many years and I will give my all—200, 300% for my country, because it is a dream," he said, as reported by Foot Africa.
"When I was younger, I dreamed of one day playing for my country at AFCON, and at the World Cup too, and I would give my life for it.
We are Ivory Coast, one of Africa's great teams, and every match is like a final, because every opponent is motivated to beat us.
"We play with this pressure every game and we are ready to go there, put our trophy on the line, and try to win it back.
We hope the fans will be there, because Ivory Coast and Morocco are not far apart. I hope they'll be there to support us."
Ivory Coast is one of Africa's top teams in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Elephants have won the tournament three times, most recently when they hosted it in 2023. They also won in 1992 and 2015.
Ivory Coast has also finished as runners-up twice, in 2006 and 2012.