Cote d’Ivoire president Alassane Ouattara has told his country’s footballers he will double their World Cup win bonuses if they beat Greece, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) said Monday.
The Elephants can guarantee their place in the knock-out stages with a victory over the 2004 European champions in Fortaleza tonight.
The incentive was communicated to the players by Guillaume Soro, president of the National Assembly, who visited the team at their World Cup base in Sao Paulo. Currently they are due 16 million CFA francs ($24,400) per player for a victory but that will double to 32 million CFA francs in case of success against Greece, FIF said on its website.
FIF added that the initiative was aimed at “giving the Elephants extra motivation” to reach the knock-out rounds for the first time in their history. “Show determination and you’ll make it,” Soro is said to have told the players.
They are currently second in Group C on three points after a 2-1 victory over Japan was followed by a defeat to Colombia by the same score.
A draw would definitely be enough for them to progress as long as Japan don’t beat Colombia in their final game. A defeat would see Ivory Coast eliminated.
Reserve goalkeeper
While such a sum may not make much difference to the likes of Manchester City’s Yaya Toure or Galatasaray’s Didier Drogba, both of whom earn considerably more than that every week at their clubs, it would certainly be welcomed by reserve goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo, the only member of the squad still plying his trade in his homeland.
Meanwhile, Yaya and Kolo Toure will have to shake off their grief over the death of their brother against Greece. The Premier League pair were dealt a terrible blow with the news that their 28-year-old brother Ibrahim died of cancer in Manchester last week.
Just days later, Ivory Coast will take to the field with their World Cup hopes on the line in their final Group C game against former European champions Greece.
In what will be one of Yaya Toure’s final memories of his brother, Ibrahim was at Manchester City’s stadium last month when he collected the Premier League trophy. Now the captain will have to contend with his emotions as well as the magnitude of the occasion as Ivory Coast seek to progress from Group C in Fortaleza.
Last week’s 2-1 loss to Colombia means Ivory Coast’s progress is far from assured and they will need a win to make sure of reaching the knock-out stages for the first time.
The Elephants trailed Japan in their opening game before the introduction of benched ex-Chelsea star Didier Drogba was credited with inspiring their 2-1 comeback win.
