CABINDA, Angola: Ivory Coast fears a long period of inactivity could harm its bid to lift its first continental title since 1992 when it takes on fellow World Cup qualifier Algeria in the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Pre-tournament favorite Cameroon is also likely to face a stiff challenge against defending champion Egypt while host Angola plays Ghana. Surprise package Zambia faces Nigeria.
On a 23-match unbeaten run, Ivory Coast’s golden generation of players — with the likes of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure — booked their spot in the last eight with a convincing 3-1 win over Ghana more than one week ago.
Following Togo’s withdrawal from the competition, the three teams left in Group B had just two matches to play.
Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic unsuccessfully tried to organize a friendly game with a local team to keep his players active to make up for missing a match against Togo.
“So many days without playing a competitive match was not good, so I’ve adapted my training methods to this new situation,” Halilhodzic said. “I put a lot of intensity in my training sessions and workload was heavy.” “We came here to win the title and we have three matches to play to achieve this,” Halilhodzic said. “There is a lot at stake for this generation. We lose everything or we win everything.” There has been some speculation that Halilhodzic could lose his job if Ivory Coast loses to Algeria despite the former Lille and Paris Saint-Germain coach securing the team’s qualification for the World Cup in June.
“In Africa, you lose a game and you’re fired,” he said.
Halilhodzic, who took over after German coach Uli Stielike was fired following a fourth-place finish at the African Cup two years ago, has turned the team into a well-drilled side that is full of quality.
“We are well organized and we work really hard,” Chelsea midfielder Salomon Kalou said. “We know that this match against Algeria will be difficult, but we have better players. If we stay focused, it won’t be a problem.” Ivory Coast will be at full strength, only missing suspended Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue.
Algeria, which lost its opener against Malawi before beating Mali and drawing with Angola, has failed to impress so far.
“I know that my team is still lacking depth,”
Algeria coach Rabah Saadane said. “We have to work a lot to reach a satisfying level.”
After scoring only one goal in the group phase, Algeria is likely to play without several key players, including goalkeeper Fawzi Chaouchi, Lazio midfielder Mourad Meghni and veteran striker Rafik Saifi who are all doubtful with injuries.
“But we won against a Mali team that is star-studded,” Saadane said. “I think we can do the same against Ivory Coast. We have to believe in our collective strength.”
After losing to Egypt in the 2008 final, Cameroon will be hoping to reverse that result this time round against the Pharaohs, who reached the quarterfinals with three wins in the group stage.
“That was 2008. Now we are in 2010 and it is a completely different game,” said Arsenal midfielder Alexandre Song. “I think it will be wrong to have revenge in mind. That would blind us to the reality of the situation. In 2008, we lost to them and that is gone. Now we have to look at them from the eyes of the present.” The Indomitable Lions twice came from behind in their last group game against Tunisia to keep alive their hopes of winning the title for a fifth time. Cameroon finished second in Group D behind Zambia, a result that set up their clash with six-time champion Egypt on Monday in Benguela.
A first place finish would have pitted Paul Le Guen’s team against Nigeria. “We do not have any preference. They are both great teams in Africa and world football,” Song said.
“There was a time we thought we were going to play Nigeria, then word came that we are facing Egypt, so we have removed Nigeria from our system.
We know we are facing Egypt and that’s it.” Ghana football association complained about “the harassment and intimidation tactics that the Angolans are deploying” ahead of their quarterfinal.
According to the federation, a Ghana journalist was attacked at the team hotel in Luanda while a special police unit is closely watching the players.
“If it’s because they (Angola) are dreading the possibility of elimination, then they better come again because we intend to defeat them and they can assault us however much they like,” spokesman Randy Abbey said.
“We have issues with the Angolan Police — they’ve set up a 24 hour surveillance unit transmitting live from our hotel with the use of an OB (Outside Broadcast) van.”
Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said his team has the potential to win the tournament for a fifth time while Angola has never reached the semifinals.
“I respect Angola,” Rajevac said. “They are a good team, but we shall give our best on Sunday. I have faith in my youthful players and so far they have proved to be good fighters.”
