Côte d'Ivoire vs Togo Preview

January 22, 2013 By Angela Asante

Topics: Ivory Coast, Togo, AFCON 2013, Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor

The crowd at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium will be expecting fireworks as Ivory Coast’s star-studded team takes on Emmanuel Adebayor’s Togo on Tuesday.

Didier Drogba's task to lead Ivory Coast to 2013 Africa Cup of Nations glory begins on January 22 against Togo. Analysis

Both teams enter the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in good form. The Togolese will feel relieved to have Adebayor on their team sheet. The presence of the Tottenham Hotspur attacker was in doubt until the very final preparation moments.

The Sparrow Hawks have been accused of depending too much on Adebayor. The team will have the chance to retort to critics on Tuesday. In fact, it takes great composure to deny the Elephants of Ivory Coast from causing an earthquake. They are the overwhelming favourites to steal the AFCON 2013 trophy away from South Africa.

With 11 goals in their last three international matches, no one can doubt the effectiveness of Ivory Coast's scoring machine led by skipper Didier Drogba and Arsenal's Gervinho with Manchester City's Yaya Toure offering great support in midfield.

Yet, they have a jinx to overcome. Didier Drogba and several other players in the squad could be playing in their very last Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The widespread belief is that if the Ivoirians do not lift the AFCON trophy with this enviable set of players, it may take many more decades for the national team to achieve this dream.

Ivory Coast's hunt for their second AFCON trophy - and their first since 1992 - begins this Tuesday. However, underdogs Togo are plotting an upset as they aim to go past Round 1 for the first time in their history.

Ivory Coast’s last four international matches

August 15, 2012: Russia 1-1 Ivory Coast
September 8, 2012: Ivory Coast 4-2 Senegal
November 14, 2012: Austria 0-3 Ivory Coast
January 13, 2013: Ivory Coast 4-2 Egypt