Senegal coach Joseph Koto to take revenge on Cote D’Ivoire

Jul 18, 2012 4:00:00 PM

The Teranga Lions coach says meeting the Elephants in 2013 Afcon qualifying will be an opportunity for vengeance following their loss to the Ivorians in the 1986 edition

Senegal coach Joseph Koto said on Friday he was excited to finally have the chance to take revenge on Cote D’Ivoire next month in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

Koto said he was a member of the squad that the Elephants booted out of the 1986 Afcon in the group stage and that there had been no opportunity to retaliate since then.

“I was a member of that squad alongside the late Jules Bocande and we did great things for Senegal and the whole nation was counting on us to win the 1986 Africa Cup of Nations especially after defeating hosts Egypt in the opener,” Koto told Senegal press agency APS.

“But we were shockingly knocked out by Cote D’Ivoire in the first round and we couldn’t progress. It was a very painful experience, but here comes an opportunity to correct history. Playing the Elephants next month gets me excited and we will be looking forward to take our revenge,” he added.

Cote D’Ivoire will host the first leg on September 7 in Abidjan. The return leg will be held in Dakar on October 12.

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