2017 AFRICA CUP - GROUP C - DAY 03 - Ivory Coast vs Togo 0:0
Africa Cup 2017
Group C
Day 03
5th match
Ivory Coast vs Togo 0:0
Key player Ivory Coast
Key player Togo
Ivory Coast and Togo could not find a way past each other
Defending champions Ivory Coast and Togo drew 0:0 in their opening Group C match at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
Jonathan Kodjia came close for Ivory Coast, but his toe-poke was well saved by goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.
At the other end, Sylvain Gbohouo rushed out of his goal to save smartly at the feet of Mathieu Dossevi.
Late on, Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier headed wide from an unmarked position in a rare clear-cut chance.
Neither side found their fluency - not helped by a poor pitch - and even from early on the game had the look of a stalemate.
Wilfried Zaha, making his competitive debut for Ivory Coast after switching international allegiance from England, looked just about the liveliest player on show.
Switching wings regularly, he cut in off the right to send a shot just over and later ended a good run from the left with an effort that was well blocked.
Both sides were guilty of wasting set-piece opportunities.
Togo's corners left a lot to be desired, while Ivory Coast fared no better from a series of free-kicks.
Aurier should have snatched a winner for the Elephants but nodded wide from six yards.
Line-ups
Ivory Coast
No. 16. Gbohouo
No. 17. Aurier
No. 21. Bailly
No. 5. Kanon
No. 18. Traoré
No. 11. Kessié
No. 20. Serey Dié
No. 6. Seri
No. 9. Zaha
No. 14. Kodjia
No. 8. Kalou
Substitutes
No. 1. Mande
No. 2. Pepe
No. 3. N'Guessan
No. 4. Koné
No. 7. Angban
No. 10. Doukoure
No. 12. Bony
No. 13. Sio
No. 15. Gradel
No. 19. Deli
No. 22. Bagayoko
No. 23. Sangaré
Togo
No. 16. Agassa
No. 17. Gakpe
No. 15. Romao
No. 13. Ouro-Akoriko
No. 21. Dakonam Ortega
No. 7. Dossevi
No. 10. Ayité
No. 18. Atakora
No. 22. Bebou
No. 19. Fo-Doh Laba
No. 4. Adebayor
Substitutes
No. 1. Mensah
No. 2. Atchou
No. 3. Ouro-Sama
No. 5. Akakpo
No. 6. Mamah
No. 8. Agbégniadan
No. 9. Bossou
No. 11. Kouloum
No. 12. Boukari
No. 14. Segbefia
No. 20. Eninful
No. 23. Tchagouni
Referee:
Eric Arnaud Otogo-Castane
Notes before the match
Ivory Coast
The holders made heavy work of qualifying, winning only one of four matches in a surprisingly closely contested group.
But they have shown signs of gaining momentum in recent months and could mount a strong defence of their title if a couple of recent additions to their squad fulfil the hopes invested in them.
Jonathan Kodjia has made such as an encouraging start to his international career that some Ivorian fans have suggested he is a legitimate heir to Didier Drogba, while Wilfried Zaha’s decision to join the Elephants could compensate for the injury to Gervinho.
Doubts persist about the team’s midfield creativity since the retirement of Yaya Touré but they may not need quite as much as others, since they have menace out wide and one of the best defences in the tournament, albeit in front of a goalkeeper of dubious reliability.
Key player:
Togo
Claude LeRoy will set a record by managing a team in the finals for a ninth time after getting Togo to the tournament as one of the best runners-up from the qualifying stage but the Frenchman is unlikely to mark that milestone by guiding the Sparrowhawks into the knockout stages.
Despite trawling European leagues for talented players of Togolese origin he has been unable to reinforce his squad since qualification so will build the side around players who are past their best, including two who are currently without clubs, captain Emmanuel Adebayor and goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.
Togo will compete ruggedly - especially midfielder Alaixys Romao - and Floyd Ayité will carry a threat from wide, but LeRoy’s side will probably be outclassed.
Key player:
Côte d'Ivoire
Togo