Elephants' hope to exorcise Ghana ghosts

GHANA does not hold happy memories for 2008 African Nations Cup favourites Ivory Coast.

When the biennial competition was last staged there eight years ago, the 'Elephants' made a humiliating first round exit despite defeating the co-hosts 2-0 in the final series of mini-league matches.


A convincing victory over Ghana in Accra should have been cause for celebration, but the damage had been done to the Ivorians after a draw against Togo and a heavy loss to Cameroon.


After the mathematicians completed their work, Cameroon and Ghana were through to the quarter-finals and Ivory Coast returned home to one of the most degrading experiences inflicted on an African national football team.


Furious at the results, the military rulers ordered the team into a camp for several days where local and foreign-based players were drilled in the importance of national pride.


Not that the 'boot camp' brought the desired results as Ivory Coast made another first round exit in Mali two years later and did not even qualify for the 2004 Nations Cup after a loss in South Africa.


Another two years saw the 'Elephants' transformed from tournament onlookers to unlucky runners-up with usually clinical striker Didier Drogba missing several chances before hosts Egypt took the trophy on a penalty shootout.

This time round deep digging is required to find anyone betting on another Egyptian triumph with the general consensus among neutrals being that Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria are the teams to beat.


And it is not difficult to see why many fancy the 'Elephants' to emulate the 1992 cup-winning team as the squad is packed with players from leading European clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea.


There are seasoned Arsenal defenders Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure, emerging Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure and Chelsea strikers Salomon Kalou and reigning African Footballer of the Year Didier Drogba.


A knee operation last month cast doubts over the availability of prolific scorer Drogba, but the 'Elephants' are confident their humble hero will be in Ghana to spread panic among Group B rivals Benin, Mali and Nigeria. But whether Ivory Coast go all the way could hinge on less known Boubacar Barry with coach Uli Stielike claiming the goalkeeper is the most improved player in the squad and the solution to a long-running problem.


Stielike will miss the tournament after his son lapsed into a coma this week and experienced Frenchman Gerard Gili, coach of the Ivorian team that qualified for the 2008 Beijing Games, takes over.