Today's Talking Points
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1Ivory Coast are the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions — they won it on home soil in 2024 in dramatic fashion, coming back from the brink of elimination to lift the trophy in front of their own fans.
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2Sébastien Haller is their main striker — the Borussia Dortmund forward who survived testicular cancer in 2022, returned to professional football and scored the winning goal in the AFCON final, in one of sport's great comeback stories.
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3They're in Group E with Germany, Curaçao and Ecuador — Germany are favourites to top the group, but Ivory Coast are the strongest African side at the tournament and capable of progressing.
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4Ivory Coast's football history includes a golden generation built around Drogba and the Touré brothers in the 2000s and 2010s — this team is different in style but carries the same physical power and confidence.
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5The squad has a strong French connection — many of their best players were born in France or developed in French football, which creates an interesting dynamic given they could meet France in the knockout rounds.
🍺 Top Thing To Say Down The Pub
Sébastien Haller scored the winner in the AFCON final less than two years after being diagnosed with testicular cancer during pre-season. That's the whole story. Nothing else needs adding.
🚫 Avoid Saying
"Ivory Coast aren't as good as they used to be" — they just won the Africa Cup of Nations. They're still very good, just good in a different way to the Drogba era.