Agbadou says Ivory Coast will treat every AFCON match as final

Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou has revealed their game plan heading into their opening fixture at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The defending champions will kick off their campaign against Mozambique at Stade de Marrakech on Wednesday. The tournament proper kicked off on Sunday with Morocco defeating Comoros 2-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Ahead of their opener, Agbadou who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers insists they are ready for challenge.

Ivory Coast and Morocco are not far apart

“I am happy because this is my first AFCON with Ivory Coast… I have been waiting for this moment for many years and I will give my all—200, 300% for my country, because it is a dream,” he said as quoted by Foot Africa.

“When I was younger, I dreamed of one day playing for my country at AFCON, and at the World Cup too, and I would give my life for it. We are Ivory Coast, one of Africa’s great teams, and every match is like a final, because every opponent is motivated to beat us.

“We play with this pressure every game and we are ready to go there, put our trophy on the line, and try to win it back. We hope the fans will be there, because Ivory Coast and Morocco are not far apart. I hope they’ll be there to support us.”

Ivory Coast is one of Africa’s major forces in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Elephants have won the AFCON three times, most recently as hosts in 2023. They previously won in 1992 and 2015.

Ivory Coast has also finished as runner up twice, in 2006 and 2012.