Wednesday, December 24
Group E
3:30 — Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea
6:00 Algeria vs Sudan
Group F
8:30 PM — Ivory Coast vs Mozambique
11:00 — Cameroon vs Gabon
Ivory Coast captain Franck Yannick Kessié has expressed readiness as his team prepares to take on Mozambique in their opening game of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
The midfielder is calm and confident that with determination, the Elephants, coming to the competition as defending champions can replicate their heroics and match their top level status.
“As reigning African champions, it’s normal to feel that particular pressure going into the tournament, we are a team everyone wants to beat, and that inevitably brings extra pressure,” Kessié said.
He added: “But we took that into account from the start of our preparation. We know what it represents and we have worked to be ready to handle that responsibility.”
“We worked on every aspect — technically, mentally and physically. The goal was to be ready not only on the pitch but also off it. In a competition like AFCON, mental management and team cohesion are just as important as tactical work.”
The former Barcelona midfielder reiterated that Côte d’Ivoire is just ready, only waiting for kickoff time. “We are really looking forward to getting our campaign underway on Wednesday.”
Confident, But Cautious!
The Elephants captain also mentioned that he recognizes how ambitious a side like Mozambique is, and the plan to handle them with utmost caution.
“We have a lot of respect for Mozambique. They are a solid team that plays without fear,” Kessié said, before adding:
“But we also know what we want to do, football is about being able to seize opportunities and score when they arise. We want to impose our game while remaining disciplined.”
To sum it all up, Kessié assured all the Ivorian fans that the the team is ready, focused and determined to defend the AFCON title. The captain promised that the team will give everything from the very first match.
