The Arsenal and Ivory Coast winger Gervinho has said that he wants to erase the painful memories of the last years defeat in the African cup of nations when the team that defeated on penalties to the minnows Zambia.
Ivory Coast have come into the last few African cup of nations as the clear favourites to win the title, but they have faltered on every occasion the final few stages. Due to the fact that the Golden generation containing the likes of Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré is unlikely to be at the peak in the next African cup of nations, this is really the final chance for Ivory Coast to make use of this powerful squad.
Gervinho is one of the players who is expected to shine at this tournament. The Arsenal striker was part of the Ivory Coast squad in the final match against Zambia. Ivory Coast lost the match 8-7 on penalties, which meant that the wait for the African cup of nations that has been going since 1992 had to continue. Gervinho, however, is determined to put things right this time around. He has said that there is a feeling and determination within the squad that they should win it this year at all costs.
“I am very excited and I am even more motivated than last year where we lost in the final and got denied that trophy that we have been waiting for so long. We have the chance to redeem ourselves. We are determined to win it this year and free us from that spell which has been on us for a long time. It (the penalty miss last year) was very tough. I tried not to think about it. It should have been a great moment and it turned into a nightmare,” said Gervinho.