IVORY COAST: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso prepare for World Cup qualifier
Record ID:
181718
IVORY COAST: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso prepare for World Cup qualifier
- Title: IVORY COAST: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso prepare for World Cup qualifier
- Date: 3rd September 2009
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (SEPTEMBER 3, 2009) (REUTERS) BURKINABE (PEOPLE FROM BURKINA FASO) CHEERING BURKINABE PREDICTING A 2-0 RESULT FOR THE BURKINA FASO TEAM BURKINABE AROUND HOTEL WHERE BURKINA FASO TEAM ARE STAYING, CHEERING PLAYERS TWO BURKINA FASO PLAYERS AT A HOTEL WINDOW MEN SHOWING A BURKINA FASO POSTER BURKINA FASO SUPPORTERS CHANTING AND DANCING AROUND THE HOTEL WHERE THE BURKINA TEAM ARE STAYING (SOUNDBITE) (French) BURKINA FASO TEAM SPOKESMAN, DOMBA ABOU, SAYING: "These two people (Ivorians and Burkinabe) and have become brothers. The Ouagadougou political deal means that today everyone, everyone feels free and the energy is flowing freely and we want to show that these two countries are sister countries and that the match is a match between two brothers, that's why you see this ambiance here" ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (SEPTEMBER 2, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IVORIAN TEAM 'THE ELEPHANTS' TRAINING AT HOUPHOUET BOIGNY STADIUM, INCLUDING CHELSEA'S DIDIER DROGBA (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST TEAM COACH VAHID HALILHODZIC SAYING: "We have a few problems with two or three players that are injured, but we are not going to complain. We are preparing something good, so we should be very confident and sturdy." ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (SEPTEMBER 3, 2009) (REUTERS) BURKINA FASO PLAYER ALAIN TRAORE IN HOTEL RECEPTION AREA (SOUNDBITE) (French) BURKINA FASO PLAYER ALAIN TRAORE SAYING: "Even if we don't have big names in African football, Ivory Coast should know they will be facing a serious team." ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (SEPTEMBER 2, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IVORIAN FOOTBALL FAN BUYING A TICKET FROM A TOUT (SOUNDBITE) (French) TECHNICIAN FROM ABIDJAN, DIEUDONNE ASSEMIAN, SAYING: "The ticket touts have bought all the tickets and they are re-selling them very expensive. We really want to go to the stadium to watch the match properly and we can't because it's become too expensive" VARIOUS EXTERIOR OF STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORIAN FOOTBALL FAN, KONE SOBLO, WHO WAS IN THE STADIUM DURING THE COLLAPSE OF MARCH 29 WHEN PEOPLE DIED, SAYING: "I think even though what happened here on March 29 it was tragic, this won't stop Ivorians from coming back to cheer their Elephants. Because, as I was saying, even after this unfortunate event, things can always happen, but we need to turn the page and come out to support the Elephants." VARIOUS OF STREET
- Embargoed: 18th September 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA9YFM0958YO3SX2TA1TDYLO4WY
- Story Text: Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso prepare for world cup qualifier in Abidjan on Saturday.
Striker Bakary Kone has withdrawn from the Ivory Coast squad for the World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso on Saturday (September 5) after picking up a knee in French Ligue 1 action, the Ivorian Football Federation said.
The Marseille attacker is joined on the international sidelines by midfielder Christian Koffi Ndri, better known as Romaric, who plays at Sevilla in Spain.
A home win in the Group E qualifier in Abidjan, coupled with Guinea's failure to beat Malawi in Blantyre the same day, would allow Ivory Coast -- the 'Elephants' -- to qualify for next year's finals in South Africa.
The Burkina Faso team spokesman, Domba Abou, said in Abidjan on Thursday that this was more than football.
"These two people (Ivorians and Burkinabe) and have become brothers. The Ouagadougou political deal means that today everyone, everyone feels free and the energy is flowing freely and we want to show that these two countries are sister countries and that the match is a match between two brothers, that's why you see this ambiance here," said ABou.
The Ivory Coast team coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, told a news conference on Wednesday: "We have a few problems with two or three players that are injured, but we are not going to complain. We are preparing something good, so we should be very confident and sturdy."
The Burkina Faso players remain confident.
Soon after arriving in Abidjan, Alain Traore told Reuters: "Even if we don't have big names in African football, Ivory Coast should know they will be facing a serious team."
Fans have been complaining that too many tickets have ended up in the hands of touts charging high prices.
Dieudonne Assemian, a technician, told Reuters on Thursday: "The ticket touts have bought all the tickets and they are re-selling them very expensive. We really want to go to the stadium to watch the match properly and we can't because it's become too expensive."
Another fan, Kone Soblo, said he was in the Abidjan stadium on March 29 when a spectator crush, collapsed wall and police action ended with more than 20 deaths. Soblo said life -- and soccer - had to go on.
"I think even though what happened here on March 29 it was tragic, this won't stop Ivorians from coming back to cheer their Elephants. Because, as I was saying, even after this unfortunate event, things can always happen, but we need to turn the page and come out to support the Elephants," said Soblo. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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