Ivory Coast vs Gambia: Bonaventure Kalou previews the clash

Kalou has a message for the Elephants

Africa Today at 06:10

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Ivory Coast vs Gambia: Bonaventure Kalou previews the clash

12.11.26 14:00 AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations

Ivory Coast

Gambia

Hervé Renard’s Ivory Coast are preparing for an important clash against Gambia in the 3rd and 4th rounds of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Bonaventure Kalou has a warning for the Elephants.

Top of Group C on the same number of points as the Scorpions of Gambia, the Elephants host their neighbours tomorrow at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké. Speaking in an interview with Ivoirezine, Bonaventure Kalou said an Ivorian win would bring Hervé Renard’s men significantly closer to qualification.

"This is the group C clash between the two teams who should claim the two qualification spots for AFCON 2027. After this match, we’ll have a clearer picture of the situation in the group," he said.

🇨🇮🐘Ils ont rejoint le groupe ce lundi soir ! Kessié, Evann Ndicka, Alban Lafont, et Abdoul Ouattara #TousDerriereLesElephants #EliminatoiresCAN2027 https://t.co/HkrJ1wIrJm
— Équipe Nationale de Football Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮🐘 (@equipenatciv) November 9, 2026

Kalou’s warning to the Elephants

Kalou remains very wary of the Gambian team, who notably managed to beat Ghana in Accra. The former international says Ivory Coast will need to be wary of a side that will have Yankuba Minteh and Musa Barrow back in its ranks. He also recalled that previous meetings between the two teams had been particularly hard-fought. "Despite the win, the Elephants had a very tough time. We’re in for a similar kind of match," he said.

🐘🇨🇮 Découvrez le programme d’activités des Éléphants pour la 3e journée des éliminatoires de la CAN 2027. Tous derrière les Éléphants ! 🇨🇮🐘 #TousDerriereLesElephants #EliminatoiresCAN2027 https://t.co/NpLwB9hFds
— Équipe Nationale de Football Cote d’Ivoire 🇨🇮🐘 (@equipenatciv) November 10, 2026

Can Ivory Coast win?

While Gambia have plenty of strengths, Bonaventure Kalou is counting on the depth of the Ivorian squad to make the difference. "Ivory Coast have an exceptional squad. They can always rely on individual talent such as Yan Diomande, Amad Diallo, Nicolas Pépé and Martial Godo to make the difference," he said.

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Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.