Côte d’Ivoire captain Serge Aurier is confident his team can overcome the challenges posed by Group F in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they face five-time champions Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
Speaking after the draw in Rabat, Aurier acknowledged the difficulty of the group but stressed his belief in the Elephants’ ability to progress.
“Of course, it’s difficult. Matches between Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire are always intense,” Aurier said. “But we cannot overlook Gabon and Mozambique. African football has progressed significantly, and every team poses a challenge.”
Côte d’Ivoire, fresh from their triumphant 2023 AFCON campaign on home soil, are looking to replicate their success in Morocco. Aurier underlined the importance of advancing from the group stage to showcase their strength in the knockout rounds.
“We hope to get out of this group. We know our strength once we progress, as we showed at the last AFCON. We are clear on what we need to do to go all the way,” he added.
Aurier also appealed to Ivorian fans for unwavering support as the team sets its sights on back-to-back titles.
“We know what it means to represent Côte d’Ivoire. Our supporters drive us forward, and we’ll give everything to make them proud,” he said.
Côte d’Ivoire will begin their title defence against Mozambique in Marrakech, a game Aurier believes is crucial for setting the tone of their campaign.
