Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry Copa: Strength and aggression helped us against Mali

Cote d’Ivoire defeated Mali on Wednesday to qualify for the final of the 28th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. In an exclusive interview with Goal.com, the Elephants’ goalkeeper Boubacar Barry Copa, who plays for Belgian club Lokeren, discussed the encounter and what he expects against Zambia on Sunday.

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Goal.com: Many people were not expecting to see you play against Mali owing to an ankle injury.

Barry Copa: Yes, but our medical staff did a very great job to make me fit enough to play.

Goal.com: Mali were unable to break the Ivorian jinx once again.

Copa: (Laughs) It’s football. I think we met one of the strongest Malian squads ever. You can see the slim score of 1-0 we used to triumph. It showed they were as competitive and determined. Although we missed a number of chances to increase the lead, they also had chances to pull level and do more.

Goal.com: We hear your coach Francois Zahoui insists more on not conceding rather than scoring, and that probably paid off again because you are yet to concede any goals at the tournament.

Copa: It’s part of our objective. We came to the 2012 Afcon with care, caution and experience from our past setbacks. We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of focusing blindly on scoring and forgetting to watch our back. Even if we score modestly, we are more attentive to what’s happening in our back half.

Goal.com: We saw a very physical Ivorian side both in defence and upfront, with Gosso Gosso, Bamba Souleman and Kolo Toure impeccably covering you, and the links between Yaya Toure, Drogba, Gervoinho and Kalou functioning like never before. Can we attribute your success to these?

Copa: Exactly. You know Mali players are tall and very good in the air, so we couldn’t have used kicking and moving alone. We applied physical strength and tight aggression as well to counter their push.

Goal.com: But then we were expecting much from Yaya because that seems to be his speciality, but he left us yawning.

Copa: No, Yaya was great, but I think after being hit several times with the referee not reacting, he felt frustrated, but he kept on nicely. He was the man of the midfield and even attempted scoring in a number of occasions.

Goal.com: Zambia now stand in your way to clinching the long over-due Afcon title.

Copa: The Chipolopolo are very dangerous, but we’ll try to maintain our usual attitude of humility and respect for our adversaries. They got here because they are strong so it’s going to be a tough game like you should expect, so stop calling us favourites for the final.

Goal.com: Drogba was angry with the written press for criticising Gervinho’s performance in your previous matches, but his goal sent the Elephants to the final.

Copa: I invite the press to be patient. We had six games to play, if a player didn’t perform well in one game he could make up for the next one, so Drogba was right for calling on the press to take it easy.

Goal.com: How has your dawn till dusk fasting helped you personally in this tournament?

Copa: Good question. I’m a religious person. I have been fasting since the beginning of the competition and I will continue till the final. Abstaining from food, water and drinks, keeps me purified, strong and spiritually focused during games.