AFCON: Ivory Coast was under pressure to defend title – Oumar Diakite

Ivory Coast forward Oumar Diakite has admitted that there was pressure to retain the Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.

The Elephants began the tournament on a bright note, winning two games against Mozambique and Gabon before drawing one against Cameroon to score seven points alongside five time champions Cameroon in Group F.

Coach Emerse Fae masterminded a 3-0 round 16 victory against fellow West Africans Burkina Faso but a 3-2 loss to record holders Egypt in the finals ended their AFCON journey.

Diakite, who is on loan at Belgian Jupiler Pro League club Cercle Brugge from Reims, played three games at the AFCON without a goal and assist.

Ivory Coast were chasing a fourth AFCON trophy

He said: “We were the champions [and] we wanted to keep the title and you know also that when you are a champion [there is] pressure on you, everybody is waiting for you so it’s also difficult but I think we managed it very well,” Oumar Diakite said.

“We started the competition very well with some good games but we met a good team in Egypt and we managed the game very well but that is football, sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

The 22-year-old who has 28 caps and six goals for Ivory Coast, remains positive about the future of the current squad.

“We lost [against Egypt] but we will not stay on this defeat, we will continue working and we will see for the future. It means that we have to look forward into the future with these young talents.

Ivory Coast defied the odds to clinch their third AFCON trophy after beating Nigeria 2-1 in the finals on home soil in 2024.