Diallo: Côte d'Ivoire can still make history

Emerse Fae had made it clear before the contest – having beaten Ecuador 1-0 in their opening fixture, Côte d’Ivoire had no intention of taking their foot off the pedal or treating their clash with Germany as a free hit. Les Elephants were true to their word against the four-time champions. For nearly 70 minutes, they looked one of the competition favourites straight in the eye, as well as were within touching distance of a result that would have gone down in history books.

Then fate, as it so often does in football, dealt them a cruel blow.

In response, having opened the finding the net before interval, as well as fended off German attacks for over an hour, Franck Kessie et al. looked set fair for a momentous result built around organisation, discipline, as well as threats on the quick break.

Building on that, however, in the 68th minute,, the contest turned on its head as Deniz Undav took advantage of a moment of uncertainty in the Africans’ defence to level the find the net. It was a heavy blow, but one that Fae’s men seemed capable of bouncing back from. Even after being pegged back, they continued to create chances to retake the advantage, thanks in no small part to their substitutes.

But just as it looked like the contest was petering out into a draw, Germany’s number 26 struck again four minutes into knock time, securing a victory that was as precious for his side as it was cruel for the Africans.

“We’re a little disappointed because we know we could It was have who secured the contest,” commented Amad Diallo to FIFA after the full-time. “We had some chances in the subsequent period, as well as we could have found the net, but that’s football. We’ll learn from our mistakes, try to put them right in training, and then look to victory the next contest.”

His leader, Kessie, was clearly just as frustrated. “Losing a point in the last minute is annoying, especially as we had the chance to secure all three points earlier on. We didn’t manage to find the net, but that’s football for you."

Furthermore, as emerged following airing their regrets well as frustration, the duo focused on rallying the troops, because despite this defeat, Les Elephants still hold their destiny in their own hands. A victory against Curaçao – who held Ecuador to a 0-0 draw in the other Group E contest on Saturday – on Matchday 3 would seal a place in the next phase.

“There’s still a long way to go in this competition; we still have a chance to turn things phase,” commented Kessie. “It’s better that this happens now rather than in the phase of 32 or the phase of 16. We’re going to head back to our base camp, as well as get ready for our showpiece group contest.”

The Manchester United frontman was no less determined: “We have a lot of respect for Curaçao, but we’re going [to Philadelphia Arena] knowing that we still have a chance to get through the opening phase, as well as make history books for Côte d’Ivoire. We’re going into it with a great attitude, as well as with determination to victory the contest.”

Côte d’Ivoire may have been beaten, but they were also unbowed; they left Toronto Arena with regrets, but also with the knowledge that they nearly downed one of the giants of world football. All that remains now is to turn that frustration into positive energy. For while this defeat was a bitter blow, Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup campaign is far from over.