To not miss any African news, subscribe to the newsletter of the World Africa from this link. Every Saturday at 6 am, find a week of news and debates covered by the editorial staff of “Monde Afrique”.
Thursday, January 20 in Douala, a team was born. “She was just asking to be born”, emphasizes Patrice Beaumelle. The Ivory Coast coach led his men to a resounding 3-1 victory over reigning African champions Algeria in the final Group E match of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN).
One “reference match” for Elephants, according to Patrice Beaumelle. And a performance that opened the doors to the round of 16 on Wednesday January 26, against another great nation of continental football: Egypt.
Almost two years after his arrival on the bench and only two months after the elimination of the Ivorians in the race for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on the same ground in Douala, against Cameroon, the coach can breathe.
For the past few months, this 43-year-old Frenchman from Arles, the youngest coach of the CAN, has been criticized by Ivorian supporters for his tactical choices and the sometimes poor performance of a team that is nevertheless attractive on paper. “Before the defeat against Cameroon, we had not lost for thirteen months”, would like to remind the coach.
“This group has a soul”
According to him, the benefits of the tournament are numerous for the collective: “With the players, this is the first time that we have spent so much time together outside and on the pitch. Before the CAN, we had never done more than three full training sessions because of the Covid. I always felt that this group had a soul. »
Long in the shadow of the charismatic Hervé Renard, of whom he was assistant coach from 2008 to 2019 in several selections on the continent, Patrice Beaumelle lives in Cameroon, his first major international competition as head coach. But the African Cup of Nations no longer has many secrets for him. Alongside Mr. Renard, he took part in six AFCONs and won two. With Zambia in 2012 and Côte d’Ivoire in 2015, already.
During this long period, he has donned the tunic of title coach on a few occasions, for the Zambian Chipolopolos in 2014 and the Moroccan Atlas Lions in 2019. But these two experiences were cut short by his professional choices in Zambia, then the lack of results in Morocco.
After the title of the Elephants in 2015, Hervé Renard signed in Lille and the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) offered the post of coach to Patrice Beaumelle, who preferred to follow his mentor to whom he had given his word. In 2019, the paths of the two men separate. “It’s time for him to stand on his own two feet, said Hervé Renard in an interview with the World. He has already coached Zambia for a few months and he has all the qualities to be a number 1. “
You have 49.85% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.
