Tokyo 2020: Cheick Timité, the Ivorian who wants to shine brightly at the Olympics

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

Côte d'Ivoire has qualified for the men's football tournament at the next Olympic Games, which are scheduled to take place in Japan. Cheick Timité, one of the craftsmen of the beautiful elephant race at CAN 2019 under 23, attacking at Paris FC (second division), should be on the trip. Portrait.

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We rarely forget great emotions. On November 22, 2019, Cheick Timité finds himself at the Cairo International Stadium, in a full enclosure to the brim, for the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in the under 23 years old category. Facing him, the host country. And despite the defeat against Egypt, the young man has an “ indelible ” memory of it.

The beautiful course of the Elephants has enabled Côte d'Ivoire to qualify for the Olympic tournament at the next Games in Tokyo. " I hope I will be traveling, " quietly slips Cheick Timité, just out of training with the Paris Football Club near Orly, where every minute, planes take off over our heads.

Fan of Aruna Dindane

Long gone are the days when Cheick Timité was playing with friends on the streets of the Parisian suburbs, dreaming of the career of Aruna Dindane, one of his favorite Elephants. " When I saw him play, I was happy, " he recalls. And the Didier Drogba generation gave him even more desire to wear the jersey of the selection.

In 2015, he was in front of his television when Côte d'Ivoire played the continental title against Ghana on penalties, in Equatorial Guinea. " We were scared! Remembers the PFC's offensive asset. Ironically, Cheick Timité also eliminated on penalties Ghana, in the CAN U23 semi-finals, enough to get the ticket for the 2020 Olympics.

“ In Egypt, we had a solid, ambitious group. This CAN experience is a very great emotion that I cannot explain, "says the one who was selected for the first time in March 2019. From the outset, the Elephants had one goal:" To fight to go to Japan . " He is now one of the actors in the history of Ivorian football.

Cheick Timité. Photo: Farid Achache / RFI

Arrived in France at the age of 14, Cheick Timité obviously maintains a proximity to the Ivory Coast. At the time, it was not just a question of playing football. " Mom, she wanted school, school, school. Everywhere at school. She didn't want to hear about anything else, "said the player on loan from Amiens (27 Ligue 1 games last season). It was in France that he was spotted by a recruiter from AC Ajaccio. After convincing his mother, he goes to Corsica. " She called all the time to find out if things were going well at school, " he laughs.

The Games, a unique event

“ Like all young people, I liked to have fun with a soccer ball. Then it became something serious. I even had in my mind the idea of ​​defending the colors of Côte d'Ivoire when I started playing at the top level. It was in the back of my mind, ”says Cheick Timité.

Today, with his Madagascan teammate Lalaina Nomenjanahary, Timité talks " all the time " about the selection. Lalaina Nomenjanahary lived an historic quarter-final in Egypt during the CAN 2019 for the first participation of Baréa. Timité has only one desire: to imitate the players of the Big Island.

And like Ibrahim Sangaré, 22, who plays in Toulouse, Cheick Timité hopes that a good journey with the U23 in Japan will open the doors of national team A. " After the Olympics, that will be my goal ", loose- he plumbed.

Next March, Cheick Timité will already set foot on Japanese soil for two preparatory meetings: against Japan and South Korea. " We are going to go and get our bearings and prepare, " says the man who is eager to discover Asia and the Games. “ It's unique, in football, you only play the Games once in your life. After the World Cup, this is the most important event for us, ”says Cheick Timité.

In 2008, the Ivorian selection participated in the Beijing Olympic Games for the first time. She had been eliminated in the quarterfinals. " I hope to do as well as Gervinho (captain at the time, note) and give joy in the hearts of the Ivorians, " he confides with humility.

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