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Djamel Belmadi, the coach who led Algeria to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, has identified Ivory Coast as the formidable force to contend with in the upcoming 2024 tournament. The highly-anticipated competition is set to commence on Saturday.
While history has shown that host nations often face challenges in converting home advantage into triumphs, Belmadi is optimistic about Ivory Coast's prospects. Only 11 out of the previous 33 AFCONs were claimed by the host side, but the 2019-winning coach believes that the Ivory Coast Elephants have the potential to secure victory for the third time, following their successes in 1992 and 2015.
Expressing his views to reporters, Belmadi emphasized the strength of the Ivorian squad, dubbing them as the team to beat in this edition of the flagship African football tournament. The Ivory Coast's rich history in the competition, coupled with their current roster, positions them as formidable contenders in Belmadi's assessment.
Contrary to suggestions that his own team, Algeria, should also be considered strong challengers, Belmadi dismissed such claims. In his view, Algeria does not rank among the favorites for the upcoming tournament.
As the footballing world turns its attention to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, all eyes will be on Ivory Coast as they strive to live up to Belmadi's endorsement and clinch victory on home soil, while Algeria aims to defy expectations and make their mark in the competition.
