Cote d’Ivoire Coach, Jean-Louis Gasset has explained why his team was demolished 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea during their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023 match on Monday.
Gasset described the outcome of the match as a nightmare. He suggested that Cote d’Ivoire was not efficient in front of goal against Equatorial Guinea.
According to him, Equatorial Guinea gave his team a real lesson.
“It is a nightmare,” Gasset said in his post-match press interview.
“We had prepared well for this match and we got into this match well by going after them and setting the pace.
“We had possession and opportunities, but we couldn’t score. On the other hand, the slightest mini-chance for our opponents turned into a goal.
“In football, you have to be efficient. Equatorial Guinea gave us a lesson in realism.”
He added, “Do I still believe we can qualify? Obviously.
“We won one match out of three, we have people who are behind us. But when you wait for the results of others, that is not a good sign.”
As AFCON 2023 gets into the round of 16, Ivory Coast will still secure a place in the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams if Cameroon fails to beat Gambia on Tuesday.