Ivory Coast challenged to end 22-year wait for Africa Cup of Nations title against Ghana
Sunday 8 February 2015 16:46, UK
Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard has warned his team's star players that Sunday's Africa Cup of Nations final could be their last chance to win a major international trophy.
The Elephants take on Ghana in Equatorial Guinea’s capital, Bana, looking to win the tournament for the first time since their only success in 1992.
The country boasts Premier League stars like Yaya and Kolo Toure and Wilfried Bony but all that individual quality has failed to translate into continental success.
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The match in Bata has been billed as a 'dream final' between two sides established on the world stage and Renard, who led Zambia to a shock African Nations Cup victory in 2012, has motivated his men to overcome the final hurdle.
"Today I'm feeling every day the same way and same team spirit that we had with Zambia in 2012," Renard said on www.cafonline.com.
"I've told them it's their last chance to win and I think it is motivating them. It will be a tough game on Sunday because Ghana is a specialist of the AFCON.
"They have played eight finals and this will be their ninth and in 1992 they lost to Ivory Coast. But I can't think even for one second about failing in the final."
Ivory Coast reached the final courtesy of a 3-1 win over DR Congo, while Ghana were comprehensive 3-0 winners over hosts Equatorial Guinea in a match marred by crowd trouble.
The match was suspended for half-an-hour after the Ghana fans were bombarded with bottles and other objects from rival supporters.
Sunday’s game sees a repeat of the 1992 final where Ivory Coast sealed their one and only continental triumph with a dramatic 11-10 penalty shootout win.
Ghana will be out for revenge, especially after having not won the competition since 1982.
