Cote d’Ivoire defender Soualio Dabila Ouattara has sounded a strong word of caution to Ghana ahead of their 2016 African Nations Championship qualifier on Sunday.
The home-based Black Stars are set to face their Ivorian counterparts in the first leg encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium to determine who joins 14 other sides, alongside hosts Rwanda, for the final championship next year.
Dabila Ouattara, a member of the Ivorian contingent that arrived in Ghana on Friday, says his side are up for the game as they hope to make a return to the biennial competition after missing out on the 2014 edition following a defeat to Nigeria in the last round of the qualifiers.
“We are here to win,” the Africa Sports centre-back told Metro FM.
“We are very determined to snatch the victory from Ghana.
“We know Ghana is a very good side with lot of talents but we are not also here to be a joke side.
“We have to be in Rwanda next year.”
The Ivorian contingent led by coach Michel Dussuyer, also trainer of the senior Ivorian A-side, included 20 players with the likes of veteran goalkeeper Sangare Badra Ali and three members of league champions AS Tanda – Koffi Marcellin, Diabate Inza and Boua Koffi Devy.
The return encounter is set to be played in Abidjan next weekend with the eventual winner on aggregate advancing to the final tournament.
