Côte d’Ivoire coach wary of counter-attacking side Guinea-Bissau

Côte d’Ivoire national team coach Jean-Louis Gasset was on media duties at the Palais de la Culture in Treichville on Friday to preview his side’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations opener against Guinea-Bissau.

The tournament gets underway on Saturday night with one of the favorites Ivory Coast taking on Guinea-Bissau at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.

This will be the first encounter between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Although Guinea-Bissau have finished bottom of their group in each of their last three appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations, Jean-Louis Gasset expects the Djurtus to put up a good fight tonight.

Gasset noted that the team coached by Baciro Candé caused a sensation during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers by recording a 1-0 road win over the Super Eagles, adding that they have fast players and thrive on counter-attacking football.

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Speaking to reporters at the pre-match press conference, the Elephants manager said: “It’s a team that beat Nigeria. We just watched the last matches.

“They have a player like Mama Baldé, who was at Troyes and currently at Lyon. They also have fast outside players. It’s a team that likes to suffer and counter. You need technical mastery and good finishing”.

Guinea-Bissau have failed to score in their last seven matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, a record for any team in the history of the competition.