Ivory Coast head coach Jean-Louis Gasset has revealed how his players reacted after their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations humiliation at the hands of Equatorial Guinea on Monday evening.
It was a day to forget for the host nation after they suffered their heaviest defeat in the tournament's history. The result puts them on the brink of elimination, as they now hope to finish among the four best third-placed teams, who will advance to the round of 16.
The large crowd of home supporters were seen leaving the stadium before the match ended, as many couldn't bare to watch. At the end of the match, some Ivory Coast players broke down in tears, as the team now have to endure a nervy wait to find out their fate.
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Gasset admitted that the result was a "nightmare" and revealed how everything just fell apart for his side, according to Jeune Afrique.
"In life, there are nightmare matches. We concede a goal one minute before half-time on the opponent's only opportunity. We had control of the game, the chances, the opportunities and we came in 0-1 at half-time. It’s already a bit hard," he declared at a press conference after the match.
"In the second half, it's the same scenario, we are dominant, the chances arrive, the goals are scored then refused. We call it the disaster scenario," he continued.
Trailing 1-0 by a goal from in-form striker Emilio Nsue before half-time, Ivory Coast scored twice, but the goals were disallowed for offside. The Elephants then capitulated and conceded three more goals between the 73rd and 88th minute.
"I don’t think it’s about the state of mind. When I see the players in the locker room crying it hurts me. We tried , we gave everything, I think. When you have a scenario like that, bordering on nightmare, there is not much to say or do," said the 70-year-old French technician,.
On the hopes of advancing to the round of 16, Gasset added: "We won a match, the four best third places are qualified, we will hope. But when we wait for the results of others, it’s not a good sign."
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