Ivory Coast captain Franck Kessie admitted that his team “messed up” in Friday’s 2025 Morocco Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Zambia at Ndola’s Levy Mwanawansa Stadium.
The Elephants suffered their second consecutive defeat in the qualifiers, losing 1-0 to Zambia’s Chipolopolo Boys.
Despite having already qualified for next year’s tournament, the Elephants were unable to make amends for their 1-0 loss to Sierra Leone, with Saudi Arabia-based player Kessie admitting that they did not play well.
The Chipolopolo Boys knew they needed to win the game right away to qualify for the AFCON.
Zambia 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 succession that Ivory Coast failed to beat Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium, having lost 3-0 in last year’s qualifiers, with Kessie describing his team’s performance on Friday as 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.”
Kessie Confident Ivory Coast Will Bounce Back Stronger
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 Group G, hoping Zambia loses to Sierra Leone on the same day.
“We have to win and finish in first place, which is what we’ve been looking for since the start of the qualifiers. So that’s part of our objective,” the former FC Barcelona midfielder said. “So we have to win, although it doesn’t depend on us anymore. It’s a shame, but we have to beat Chad, and if we take the three points after that, we’ll see what happens next.”
They are in second place with 9 points, trailing Zambia, who leads the group with 10. Regardless of the outcome between the Elephants and Chad, Chipolopolo will finish first if they defeat the Leone stars.
With two defeats in two games, the Elephants, who won the AFCON last year, appear to be battling for form as fan pressure for better performance grows
Kessie is confident that the team will soon return to its winning ways.
“We try to talk to the young and new players, and I believe we lose together, as they say, and when we win together today, but I believe when you’re in the group like this, you always have to work. And at the end of the tunnel, we will, we will smile.”
There is one year to prepare for next year’s AfCON, which will be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and Ivorians will be relieved that they have enough time to put their house in order to defend the title they won earlier this year by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
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