A significant occasion at present enjoying out within the minds of many Nigerian soccer followers and their Ivorian counterparts, forward of immediately's epic conflict between the Tremendous Eagles and the Elephants, is the Battle of Rustenburg the place each groups met through the South African 2013 version of the Africa Cup of Nations.
In contrast to this yr's occasion, the place the 2 groups meet of their second group match, the Battle of Rustenburg was a quarter-final draw. The build-up was monumental.
As soccer followers world wide centered on the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, late coach Stephen Keshi and his military have been seen as outliers for the Elephants on the time, given Nigeria's less-than-impressive run-up to that encounter.
Then even the Nigerian Soccer Federation (NFF) didn’t consider within the potential of the Tremendous Eagles to get outcomes towards the Elephants, a facet rated as the most effective in Africa primarily based on the caliber of gamers they paraded. The Ivoirians had all the things in retailer for them.
The crew, led by the artistic Didier Drogba, tagged because the 'Golden Era', had different prime gamers equivalent to KoloToure, Yaya Toure, Gervinho Yao Kouassi, Solomon Kalou, Emmanuel Eboue, Didier Zokora, Arthur Boka, SiakaTiene and CheickTiote all dazzling within the English Premier League.
Again then, Yaya Toure, a midfield 'common' at Manchester Metropolis, was the supreme commander of African soccer, having gained the African Footballer of the Yr award twice in a row (2011 and 2012). He later gained it in 2013 and 2014.
On the eve of the quarter-final in Rustenburg, all consideration was on the 'harmful' efficiency of Drogba and his crew, after he had already failed twice within the remaining.
Including to the drama was an announcement from Emmanuel Eboue: “We’ll eat the Eagles like tremendous fried hen.” It made daring headlines in lots of South African newspapers.
Each main sporting match has its defining second for women and men who form historical past for higher or worse. On a day when a lot was anticipated of the Elephants, it was Keshi and his band of 'rookies' who gained the day, with Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba dealing the killing blows that struck the Ivorian crew and their flag-and-banner-waving supporters delivered to the facet. to mattress early.
On the finish of that assembly, Eboue was seen crying like a child. He later instructed The Guardian throughout a post-match interview that he was sorry for utilizing such provocative and aggravating phrases in regards to the Tremendous Eagles.
Like another encounters, the standing of immediately's tie has been heightened by the present actuality surrounding the 2 groups.
Whereas hosts Elephants at present prime the group with three factors, the Tremendous Eagles have only one level, no because of their poor efficiency towards Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria and Ivory Coast have a historical past of clashes etched in drama and willpower. From Senegal '92 AFCON, the place the late Rashidi Yekini's stunner silenced the whole Ivory Coast, to the Tunisia '94 semi-final, the place Nigeria gained a tension-drenched draw 4-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
In Egypt 2006, each groups met within the semi-finals in Alexandria, with Drogba scoring the one objective for the Ivoirians. Two years later, the Ivorians have been once more 1-0 winners after Salomon Kalou scored the one objective in a gaggle match within the Ghanaian metropolis of Sekondi. It has been a type of ardour and redemption each on and off the sphere throughout conferences between the 2 international locations.
The Tremendous Eagles say they’ve put the 1-1 draw towards Equatorial Guinea behind them and are trying ahead to what they are saying will probably be an 'fascinating encounter' with hosts Ivory Coast immediately.
The Elephants will probably be trying to e-book a ticket to the early Spherical of 16 in the event that they beat the Tremendous Eagles immediately on the newly constructed Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpe.
For his or her half, the Eagles know that something in need of a win will jeopardize their possibilities of advancing within the match. They’ve promised to get all three factors.
