Football
Exclusive: ‘Ivory Coast Messed Everything Up in Zambia Defeat’ - Says Kessie
Franck Kessie reflects on Ivory Coast's 1-0 loss to Zambia in AFCON qualifiers, calling it disappointing. The Elephants aim to bounce back against Chad in their final group match.
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Ivory Coast suffered their second consecutive defeat in the 2025 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, falling 1-0 against Zambia's Chipolopolo Boys at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.
Despite having already qualified for next year's tournament, the Elephants hoped to make amends for a 1-0 loss to Sierra Leone, but failed, with Saudi Arabia-based and former FC Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie conceding that they did not play well.
ZAMBIA DOMINATED IVORY COAST TO SEAL QUALIFICATION
The match was a must-win for the Chipolopolo Boys, who made their intentions apparent from the start in front of their home crowd.
They needed to win to qualify for the AFCON for the second time in a row, a feat they had not accomplished in the previous nine years, missing three editions of the tournament prior to 2023.
The 2012 African champions, coached by former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, scored the game-winning goal in the 43rd minute, when Kings Kangwa launched an onslaught that set up Joseph Sabobo Banda, who sweetly cut inside for Kennedy Musonda to finish with a left-foot effort inside the 18-yard box.
It was the second time in a succession that Ivory Coast failed to beat Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium, having lost 3-0 in last year's qualifiers, with Kessie calling his team's performance on Friday disappointing.
“It's difficult to explain losing two games in a row. We messed everything up with the defeat and I think we're going to double our efforts. We're going to give everything and try again to get back on the right track, which is the road to victory,” he told SportsBoom.com after the game.
And it's not easy to say after, especially after two defeats in a row. So believe me, it's very difficult. We try with the coach, as one of the leaders, we try to lift the team.
Franck Kessie
IVORY COAST’S CHANCES OF FINISHING TOP OF GROUP G
The Elephants will host bottom-placed Chad for their final group game in the qualifiers on Tuesday, hoping to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd.
Kessie declared that match a must-win as they look to finish first in the group, hoping Zambia loses to Sierra Leone on the same day.
"We have to win and finish first, which is what we've been aiming for since the qualifying round began. So that's part of our objective," the former FC Barcelona player stated.
"So,, we have to win, even though it no longer depends on us. It's a shame, but we need to beat Chad, and if we get the three points, we'll see what happens next.”
Calvin Kaumba Chikenge is a renowned multimedia sports journalist from Zambia, known for his in-depth reporting and captivating feature stories. With eight years of experience in the field, he has built a reputation for telling unique stories that resonate with audiences both locally and globally. His talent and dedication were recognised when he was named the 2023/24 MTN/FAZ Super League Journalist of the Year, highlighting his outstanding contributions to sports journalism in Zambia.