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Tag: Ivory Coast

  • AFCON 2023: Hosts Ivory Coast sack coach Jean-Louis Gasset

    AFCON 2023: Hosts Ivory Coast sack coach Jean-Louis Gasset

    Jean-Louis Gasset has been sacked as coach of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosts Ivory Coast two days after their 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea.

    It was the heaviest home defeat in Ivory Coast history and they are the first Afcon host to lose two group games since they did so in 1984.

    The Elephants still carry faint hopes of progressing to the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

    Read Also: Ivory Coast hopes Haller returns against Guinea

    They will be led by Emerse Fae, one of Gasset’s coaches, on an interim basis.

    The country’s football federation said it had “terminated the contracts” of 70-year-old Gasset and his assistant Ghislain Printant “due to insufficient results”.

  • Asisat Oshoala to begin Captain’s role against Cote d Ivoire

     

    Barcelona ladies forward and Assisat Oshoala will begin her assignment as new Super Falcons skipper on Thursday in Abidjan.

    The falcons take on their Ivorian counterparts in the first leg of their two-legged Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers on Thursday and will be hoping to continue their impressive run after beating Algerian ladies both home and away.

    Led by caretaker coach Chris Danjuma, the team left Nigeria Tuesday for Abidjan and will be using Wednesday to feel the pitch and have last training ahead of the clash.

    Seven foreign based players and 11 home based players made the party to Abidjan. The second leg comes up on the 7th October at the Agege Stadium.

    Uncertainty however still surrounds the fate of Coach Thomas Dernneby who appears to have walked out of the job.

    Super Falcons set for Ivorian challenge

    Ivory Coast pulled a 3-0 aggregate score against Mali to get to qualify for the third round.  Other third round matches scheduled for this week include Cameroon versus DR Congo, Ghana versus Kenya and Zambia versus Botswana.

    The winner of the qualifying tournament books a place in the Tokyo Olympics while the runners up will enter a play-off against the second-placed team The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL)

    Falcons Squad to Abidjan

    Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie; Tochukwu Oluehi

    Defenders: Ugochi Emenayo; Glory Ogbonna; Osinachi Ohale; Chidinma Okeke; Maryam Ibrahim; Ihuoma Onyebuchi

    Midfielders: Amarachi Okoronkwo; Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene; Regina Otu; Cecilia Nku; Chinaza Uchendu

    Forwards: Asisat Oshoala; Francisca Ordega; Gift Monday; Rafiat Sule; Rasheedat Ajibade.

     

     

  • My desire is to return Ivorian football to place of pride-Drogba

     

    Ivorian football legend and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba says his ultimate desire is to take the country’s football to back to its original place of pride.

    Ivory Coast according to him has a glorious football past and everything must be done to return the country to those days of glory.

    Drogba who revealed that Chelsea offered him a coaching role after his contract with the club ended said he turned down the offer because his passion was not in coaching but in leading the Ivorian football Federation with a view to taking the game in the country to the next level, noting that there are tested hands in the country who can effectively work with him to achieve the needed turn around.

    The former Shanghai Shenhua of China ace said “Chelsea offered me the chance to return to them as a coach. “But being a coach does not interest me. I am a leader, and my vision is bigger than just the simple role of being a coach

    “A coach has an impact on a club – but I want to have an impact on an entire nation. I could have stayed at Chelsea, but I think the real challenge is here. I want us to re-think football, with a nationwide vision, so we can develop the game here. The Ivory Coast has a glorious footballing past.

    Former Ivorian captain Drogba

    “The funds are in place, together with talent and potential, but they are under-exploited.

    “There are some very competent people in the Ivory Coast who can work with me on this project, “he enthused.

    Drogba who made over 226 appearances for the Blues scoring 100 goals made 105 appearances for the Elephants of Cote d Ivoire scoring 65 goals.

    The two- time African Footballer of the year was there times in running for the Ballon d Or award finishing 8th, 4th and 9th respectively in the 2006, 2007 and 2009 editions.

  • Coca-Cola to launch ‘safe birth initiative’

    Coca-Cola to launch ‘safe birth initiative’

    A new program – The Safe Birth Initiative,  is to be launched by Coca-Cola company to support the Ministries of Health in Ivory Coast and Nigeria to tackle the high incidence of maternal and newborn mortalities

    This was disclosed by the Coca-Cola Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Group President, Brian Smith, during a courtesy visit to Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Ivory Coast.

    The program will focus on strengthening the capacity of maternity and neonatal units in selected public hospitals in Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

    With US$2 million grant from Coca-Cola to Medshare International Inc., the US-based not-for-profit NGO will source essential equipment, kits and supplies worth about US$20 million to enable safe deliveries and post-delivery emergency care for both mothers and their newborns.

    The program will also include the training of biomedical technicians and other appropriate hospital personnel by Medshare International on the operation, repair and maintenance of the donated equipment as well as the reactivation of a huge stock of faulty or abandoned equipment in public hospitals which is a major challenge for the country’s healthcare delivery system.

    This intervention comes as Ivory Coast, which has enjoyed stability as one of the fastest economic growth rates since the end of a civil war in 2011, grapples with some of the highest maternal and newborn mortality ratios globally.

    According to UNICEF’s 2016 State of the World’s Children report, 38 out of every 1,000 babies die within the first 28 days of birth while 645 out of 100,000 women die during or shortly after child birth due to avoidable conditions. This translates to 31,000 newborns and 5,400 maternal deaths annually in a country with a population of 24 million people.

    In Nigeria on the other hand, about 40,000 women and 260,000 newborns (excluding 300,000 stillborn) die during or shortly after childbirth annually. About 29% of the newborn deaths (90,000) occur in the first 24 hours of birth. For this reason, neonatal mortality is considered as one of the worst public health crises in Nigeria and a major priority for the Government in its resolve to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Brian Smith, Coca-Cola EMEA Group President stated, “The commitment to help promote sustainable development in our communities is a fundamental part of Coca-Cola’s strategy for sustainable business growth. This program which demonstrates this commitment will help save the precious lives of many mothers and newborns and also support the remarkable efforts of the Ivorian government at rebuilding this vibrant country”.

    President Ouattara welcomed Coca-Cola’s support for the Health Ministry, noting that maternal and child health was an area the country recorded a weak performance under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “Your new program will translate to improved healthcare and budget savings which will be channeled to other needs,” President Ouattara said, adding that his Administration has been able to drive growth in the economy at an average rate of 9% over the last 5 years. “Our emphasis now is to boost social expenditure with a focus on health, education and youth employment in order reduce the poverty level further from 50% to about 25% by the end of my current tenure”.

    Ivorian Minister of Health, Dr. Goudou Coffi, noted that improvement of maternal and newborn healthcare is one of the public health priorities of the country and thanked Coca-Cola for the initiative. “Coca-Cola’s support through the Safe Birth Initiative will significantly strengthen our healthcare capacity and boost our resolve towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets in relation to maternal and newborn mortalities”, she said.

    Peter Njonjo, President of Coca-Cola West Africa Business Unit said “Coca-Cola has a special relationship with women who are pillars of our business, especially in Africa where women play a dominant role in our distribution and retail network. Just like our 5 by 20 Initiative, the Safe Birth Initiative which we will be implemented in Ivory Coast and Nigeria is a platform enabling us to promote the well being of women, in this case, as it relates to the special but vulnerable experience of childbirth”.

  • Fascinating African Cultures To Know

    Fascinating African Cultures To Know

    Africa boasts of some of the world’s most fascinating cultures and traditions that dates back to hundred of years. There a couple of fascinating African cultures that you probably don’t know or might not even have heard of. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares four fascinating African cultures to know.

    Living With Their Mothers

    In the Gio tribe int, Ivory Coast children never live with their fathers. The women of the tribe have their own houses (typically small huts), where they live with their children until the children are old enough to move out.

    Sons are Raised by Uncles

    In the Northern Angolan Songo tribe, when male children reach the age 5 or 6 years, they are sent to live with their uncles on the mother’s side. This is because, in their society, chiefs inherit their titles and positions through matrilineal lines.

    Preserving Wild Animals

    The Massai people of Kenya and Tanzania are averse to killing wild animals. They freely keep cattle and livestock, but wild animals are left untouched. This is largely because they consider these wild animals clan members, and each clan is associated with a specific species which they often keep close to them and treat as a clan member.

    Beating the Suitor

    In the Fulani tribe in West Africa, the custom of beating the suitor is followed as part of the Sharo tradition. The custom is followed when two men are vying for the same woman. To determine the eventual suitor of the woman, the men are asked to compete for the hand of the woman by beating themselves up. The man who is able to take the beating while showing the least or no sign of pain, can take the woman as a wife. The people of the tribe might not practice the tradition as strictly as they once did, but there are still some parts of the tribe that practice it to the letter.

  • Doctors successfully separate girl born with four legs in Chicago

    Doctors on Tuesday successfully separated a baby girl from the Ivory Coast born with four legs and two spines  in a rare and complex surgery at a Chicago hospital.

    Pediatric and reconstructive surgeon Frank Vicari said the ten-month-old Dominique underwent a six-hour procedure involving five surgeons at the Advocate Children’s Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, on March 8.

    “She is now thriving with the Chicago foster family who will look after her until she is well enough to return home.

    “It’s going rather well. She was only in the hospital a total of five days. She’s been home with ‘step-mom’ and just doing very, very well,” her foster mother told Reuters.

    Dominique was born with a parasitic twin.

    The bottom half of her not-fully-developed twin’s body protruded from her neck and back.

    Dr John Ruge, a pediatric neurosurgeon at the hospital said: “a parasitic twin is an identical twin that fails to fully separate in development.

    “In other words, not another independent twin, but a twin that was dependent on her body system, such that Dominique’s heart and lungs provided the nourishment.”

    Doctors did not give Dominique’s family name.

    Nancy Swabb, from Edgebrook, Illinois, has looked after Dominique since she arrived in the United States for the surgery.

    “She’s been a joy. We really enjoyed having her in our family.

    “We send a lot of photos and updates and so we know that Dominique’s family sees what she’s doing and seeing that she has two new teeth and she’s learning to wave and doing all sorts of special things.”

    Swabb said she did not want to think about saying goodbye to Dominique when she returns to her family in the Ivory Coast.

    “She has touched our hearts. She’s a member of our family.

    “She’s pretty amazing,” Swabb said.

     

  • AFCON: Ivory Coast must beat Moroccco for quarter final

    AFCON: Ivory Coast must beat Moroccco for quarter final

    The defending Champions of the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Ivory Coast must beat Morocco to secure progress to the last eight when they meet at the ongoing tournament in Gabon later on Tuesday at Oyem.

    The Ivorians could be the next major casualty at this year’s tournament unless they can get the better of Morocco and their former coach Herve Renard in their last Group C match.

    Failure to do so will see them follow hosts Gabon and pre-tournament favourites Algeria out of the door.

    Ivory Coast were in a similar position two years ago when they also drew their opening two games but then went on a winning run that took them to the title.

    “Don’t worry we’ll do it again,’’ promised fullback Serge Aurier after their last draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.

    DR Congo are top on four points and are expected to see off Togo, on one point, in Port-Gentil to go through as group winners.

    Morocco, in second spot, have three points, one more than the Ivorians.

    Since departing the Ivory Coast, who he led to the 2015 Nations Cup title, Morocco coach Renard has already had one reunion with his former charges in a World Cup qualifier in Marrakech in November which ended in a 0-0 draw.

    On Monday, Senegal, who had already secured top place, rested key players as they drew 2-2 with Algeria in Franceville, while Tunisia, who needed just one point to take second spot, comfortably beat Zimbabwe 4-2 in Libreville.

  • Ivory Coast fight back to hold DR Congo

    Ivory Coast fight back to hold DR Congo

     

     

    Ivory Coast were forced to fight back to hold the Democratic Republic of Congo to a 2-2 draw in their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) clash at the Stade d’Oyem on Friday evening.

    As a result DR Congo remain at the top of Group C standings with four points, while the defending champions Ivory Coast move up to second with two points.

    The Leopards dominated the opening exchanges of the encounter and they deservedly took the lead just 10 minutes into the game.

    Junior Kabananga set-up his Congolese teammate Neeskens Kebano, who rifled the ball low into the far corner; beating Ivory Coast goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo.

    Ivory Coast then stepped up the tempo and they won a corner-kick in the 26th minute following a good move by the Elephants.

    Max Gradel then whipped in a good cross from the resulting set-piece which found his Elephants teammate Wilfried Bony, who headed home to level matters.

    But the lead only lasted for four minutes as Kabananga also scored with a good header to restore DR Congo’s lead – exposing Ivory Coast’s poor marking in the process.

    DR Congo keeper Ley Matampi then denied Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier on the stroke of halftime as the Leopards held onto their 2-1 lead heading into the break.

    Unsurprisingly, Ivory Coast played really high up the pitch, pressing the DR Congo in the opening stages of the second-half in search of the equalising goal.

    Cheick Doukoure unleashed a powerful strike in the 62nd minute, but Matampi was equal to the task as he punched away the Ivorian midfielder’s effort.

    Ivory Coast’s pressure paid off five minutes later as Serey Die’s long range effort deflected slightly off Marcel Tisserand and into the back of the net.

    Unmarked, Aurier, should have snatched the winning goal for the Elephants in the 87th minute, but somehow the full-back mistimed his header across goal.

    Despite late attacks by both sides, they were unable to find the back of the net and the game ended in a 2-2 draw – with Ivory Coast recording another stalemate. Congo on matchday three.

  • Yaya Toure hints on leaving Man City

    Yaya Toure has hinted that he has already received offers to move to Inter Milan.

    According to his agent, Dimitri Seluk, the Ivorian International is set to reunite with Roberto Macini.

    Ivory Coast international’s representative says he has already received offers for the 32-year-old and has hinted at a move to Inter to be reunited with Roberto Mancini.

    Seluk confirmed that Yaya Toure will definitely leave this summer, “ Yaya Toure will definitely leave this summer, I can calmly confirm that” he reiterated.

     

    Toure deals with Man City will expire at the end of next season and he has yet to agree a new contract at the Etihad Stadium.

  • Terrorists kill 16 in Ivory Coast attack

    Terrorists kill 16 in Ivory Coast attack

    Al-Qaeda-linked militants yesterday killed no fewer than 14 civilians and two soldiers in a gun attack on a beach resort in south-eastern Ivory Coast.

    The attackers fired on beach-goers in Grand Bassam, about 40km (25 miles) from the commercial capital Abidjan.

    The resort is popular with both locals and foreigners. One of the dead was French, France’s foreign ministry says.

    Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed the attack. The gunmen have been “neutralised”, officials say.

    Ivory Coast was once one of the most stable countries in West Africa.

    However, a civil war broke out in 2002, pitting the mainly Muslim north against the largely Christian south. Since then, peace deals have alternated with renewed violence.

    A witness of Sunday’s attack told AFP that “heavily armed men wearing balaclavas” opened fire near the L’Etoile du Sud hotel, which was full of expats.

    Another eyewitness, Souleymane Kamagate, said he saw people running from the beach and fleeing in all directions.

    French President Francois Hollande condemned the “cowardly attack”. There is no word so far on the nationalities of other victims.

    BBC regional reporter Maud Jullien says Ivory Coast has been identified as one of several countries in West Africa at risk of being targeted by Islamist militants.

    AQIM claimed deadly attacks on luxury hotels in Mali in November and Burkina Faso in January.

    The group, which has its origin in Algeria’s civil war of the 1990s, has expanded across the Sahel regions south of the Sahara in recent years.