CAN 2021: the reactions of Milla, Diouf, Beaumelle, Neveu after the draw
The former stars of African football at the time of the draw for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, in Yaoundé, on August 17.
AFP - DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO
Text by: Cédric de Oliveira |
Fabien Essiane
7 mins
After the draw for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (postponed to 2022), organized at the Yaoundé Congress Center, this Tuesday, August 17, coaches, presidents of federations and some legends of African football reacted to the microphone of RFI.
Publicity
Read more
CAN 2021 has already been launched.
52 matches await lovers of African football from January 9 to February 6, 2022 in Cameroon.
The draw for
this edition took place this Tuesday, August 17 in Yaoundé under the leadership of Nigerian journalist Mimi Fawaz and Cameroonian presenter Leonard Chatelain.
Cameroonians Samuel Eto'o, Gaëlle Enganamouit, Algerian Rabah Madjer, Ivorian Didier Drogba and Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan have drawn the 24 teams who will embark on the race to succeed Algeria.
The composition of the groups of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
© FMM Graphic Studio
Cameroonians "will do everything to go to the end"
The host country will face Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Cape Verde in Group A.
Roger Milla, legend of the Indomitable Lions, winner of the CAN 1984 and 1988: “
I have confidence because in 2017, nobody saw the Indomitable Lions among the favorites.
And we won.
They took our advice.
And I'm sure these boys will do anything to see it through to the end
”.
Always a pleasure to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, even more in my country.
🏆
Good luck to all the teams but mostly Cameroon.
🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/mnNCiX3Esa
- Roger Milla (@ roger_milla_9) August 17, 2021
Jacques Songo'o former goalkeeper of Cameroon, winner of CAN 1984, 1988 and 2002: “
You have to prepare well.
People think it will be easy for Cameroon.
Today there is no longer a small team.
No one can feel spared.
We can also end up in five months with wounded.
I still think it's always good to have lesser opponents like the ones we're going to cross swords with.
We will immediately launch the preparation for the CAN.
We will have to reorganize our team and prepare well.
Regarding the organization of this draw, I am proud of my country
”.
"This year is that of Senegal"
Senegal, finalist of the 2019 edition is in Group B with Zimbabwe, Guinea and Malawi.
El-Hadji Diouf, former Senegalese international, CAN finalist and World Cup quarter-finalist in 2002: “
Our group is very open.
Everyone will have to play their qualification thoroughly and respect their opponents.
A final for us will be the crowning achievement of all our efforts.
I think this year is Senegal's.
We are going to look for the final.
It will be hard, but in my opinion we will show very beautiful things during this CAN.
Everything is there to have a good competition
”.
"It's over"
A message from El Hadji Diouf.
😎🇸🇳 # TotalEnergiesAFCON pic.twitter.com/4843iQk6h8
- #TotalEnergiesAFCON 2021 🏆 - FR (@caf_online_FR) August 17, 2021
Morocco, Ghana, Comoros, Gabon: "a solid C group"
Patrice Neveu, Gabon coach: “
The objective is to get out of the group even if it looks difficult.
It's up to us to be solid on the ground to get results.
These will be matches where you have to be patient.
It will be played on narrow scores.
It's a solid group, but we are part of the good teams
”
"Egypt and Nigeria are football powers"
After missing the last four editions, Sudan will face Egypt, Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau in Pool D.
Kamal Hamid Ibrahim Shaddad, President of the Sudanese Football Federation: “
Egypt and Nigeria are football powers.
Guinea Bissau is not a nation to be neglected, because they have to fight to qualify.
So we have a big challenge to take up.
There is still a lot of work ahead.
We are on good progress.
If we do a good preparation, we can surprise.
Everyone gives us losers.
The CAN will also be a way for us to grow by measuring ourselves against the greatest teams on the continent.
But we will fight
”.
"Matches disputed" for Ivory Coast
Côte d'Ivoire will face defending champion Algeria, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea in Group E.
Patrice Beaumelle, Elephants coach: “
We end up with an African giant and two teams, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, who finished second in their qualifying pool.
I have a lot of respect for these selections.
It is a raised hen.
Algeria is obviously the favorite.
This will result in hard-fought, bitter matches with very different football.
I can not wait to be there.
We are going to prepare ourselves to sell our skin very expensive
”.
Patrice Beaumelle in the sudios of RFI (Archives).
Photo: RFI
Juan Micha, Equatorial Guinea coach: “
Since our great adventure at CAN 2015 (semi-final), we have learned to be very careful and very wary. We fell into a tough hen. But we are going to show what we are capable of. All the games will be very important to us. We are going to take them all very seriously. This is the first time that we are going to play an CAN away from our facilities, from our home crowd. It will be a great experience for us. We know Côte d'Ivoire well. It's a very strong team. We had already faced them in 2012 in the quarter-finals. They got the better of us but it will be an opportunity for us to take our revenge. Sierra Leone is a growing team. I am going to return to the country, to meet with those responsible for our football. There will be noexcuse if we do not make a good preparation for this CAN 2021. We will give ourselves the means to qualify
".
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Sports
Soccer
CAN 2021
Africa
On the same subject
African football
CAN 2021: calendar and results of the Africa Cup
LOTS
CAN 2021: Cameroon-Burkina Faso opening, Algeria and Ivory Coast in the same pool