Jean-Michael Seri extols Elephants for ousting AFCON defending champions Teranga Lions of Senegal to the quarter-finals of Cote d’Ivoire 2023
An Ivory Coast supporter shows their team’s mascot, nicknamed the Elephants, during the 2012 AFCON in Gabon on Feb. 8, 2012. © Francois Mori/AP
Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Jean-Michael Seri says despite the team advancing on penalties, what matters is the fact that they have qualified for the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
Seri spoke after his side’s emphatic 5-4 victory following a 1-1 stalemate against Senegal, where he was awarded the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award in Yamoussoukro.
“We did not start the match well, and after we conceded the goal, we responded to that, and we took control of the match with a team performance. It doesn’t matter how we qualified; what matters is that we qualified”, said the midfielder.
“We were just calm. At halftime, the coach asked us to continue in the same way. We were excellent and united and fought for our nation. The important thing is that we qualified for the quarter-finals. Côte d’Ivoire qualified for the next round, which is the most important thing for me”, concluded the midfielder.
