CAN 2024: Nigeria-Ivory Coast, Musa and Gradel, guides for the trophy
Each in their own way, the Nigerian Ahmed Musa, and the Ivorian Max-Alain Gradel, African champion in 2013 and 2015 respectively, will play a key role with their teammates to help their team win the final.
Ahmed Musa and Max-Alain Gradel © Ahmed Musa (Pierre René-Worns, RFI), Max-Alain Gradel (Issou Sanogo, AFP); RFI mounting
By: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
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From our special correspondent in Abidjan,
They are the guardians of their team's temple. Players with a profile and experience who could be decisive this Sunday February 11 during the CAN
2024
final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast (8 p.m. UT). In 2013, Ahmed Musa won the CAN with Nigeria. More than 10 years later, he had the opportunity with Kenneth Omeruo to achieve the double with the Super Eagles. Max-Alain Gradel has the same ambition with Ivory Coast after being
crowned with the Elephants in 2015
with his teammate Serge Aurier. Two captains, two different journeys in this CAN, but who certainly have the same impact on their teammates.
Gradel, from bench to captaincy
Max-Alain Gradel could have ended his career with this unworthy image of his superb international career. The 36-year-old, who did not leave the bench during the first two group matches, was launched for the last eight minutes of the catastrophic Ivory Coast-Equatorial Guinea (0-4). Everything could have ended there for the man who made his first selection in June 2011. But the miracle took place and Max-Alain Gradel won the right to continue the adventure along with the Elephants. Here he starts in the
round of 16 against Senegal (1-1; tab: 5-4)
. Lacking rhythm, he will play 63 minutes in this match which will change the destiny of the Elephants. Starting again
in the quarterfinals against Mali
, he will remain on the field for 75 minutes and will even occupy the right-back position for many minutes after the expulsion of Odilon Kossounou.
Exemplary on the pitch, at 36 years old, the oldest Elephant after Ali Badra Sangaré (37 years old), Max-Alain Gradel inherits the captain's armband in the semi-final against DR Congo. As a reward for the attacker with an impeccable state of mind. Passerby on Sébastien Haller's decisive goal
against the DRC
, the former Saint-Etienne player should once again start this Sunday against Nigeria to guide his teammates towards the path to the coronation which he has already walked.
Musa, the “assistant player”
In 2013, when Nigeria won the 2013 CAN, Ahmed Musa, 20 years old, was a great hope for Nigerian football. Eleven years later and 109 selections on his CV, here he is, a veteran of the Super Eagles group in this CAN 2024. “
He is very, very, very important. For us, it's more, more, more than a player
,” insisted his coach José Peseiro to magnify the role of his attacker in the selection. At 31 years old, the Sivasspor player must find it a long time, having not played a single minute since the start of the competition. But his coach does not want to lose him and knows how much he can count on Musa in his mission to win the CAN. “
Musa hasn't played yet, it's true, but he's very important for the group and for me
,” Peseiro said on Saturday at a press conference in the presence of the player.
I consult him a lot on a daily basis, because he knows the context well. He gives me suggestions on many things. He is essential, he knows the history of the team. He had the chance to win the CAN, he’s a fantastic asset for the rest of the team.”
On Sunday, unlike Max-Alain Gradel, Ahmed Musa has little chance of starting the final, but if Nigeria wins the Cup, he will have left his mark behind the scenes on the trophy.
“I want to win the CAN on Sunday to see Ahmed lift this cup
,” said José Peseiro. All Nigeria dreams of seeing this image.
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