In Africa, superstitions endure. The leaders of the hamlet of Ebimpé, where the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara was constructed to host the opening game and championship of the AFCON 2023, which will take place in Côte d’Ivoire in 2024, were met by Prime Minister Beugré Mambé a few days ago. The purpose of doing this was to dispel any confusion about the eradication of local customs rights.
The local leaders greeted him with open arms when he came out, praising his idea and giving him the go-ahead to “provide the infrastructure,” which was code for anything like the rain that ruined the friendly match between Côte d’Ivoire and Mali on September 12 would never happen again. With the exception of the authorities and the general populace, who still harbor dread. On Thursday, November 16, despite the fact that the Côte d’Ivoire national team was supposed to practice on the restored field for the third time in two years, it was just postponed and relocated to the Lycée Classique in the center of the city.
He departed with the approval of the local leaders, who praised his idea and gave him instructions to “provide the infrastructure,” suggesting that mishaps like the rain on September 12 that marred Côte d’Ivoire’s friendly match against Mali would never occur again. With the exception of the authorities and the general populace, who still harbor dread. On Thursday, November 16, the Ivorian national team’s training session was simply canceled and transferred to the Lycée Classique in the center of the Cocody commune, despite the fact that it was supposed to take place on the restored field for the third time in two years.
The Ebimpé stadium field is barely two months old, having completely recovered since September 14, 2023.
A young pitch, that is.The rooting level of 12 cm is adequate. The specialist business that the CAF hired, Pro Pitch, claims that the infiltration tests are satisfactory and that the pitch can withstand high rains and prolonged downpour. On Thursday, November 9, the field hosted a test match for the second division. The roughness of the game caused harm to it in several areas. Gregori business is in the process of improving the pitch. In all fairness and to provide the best possible pitch conditions, the ONS and FIF have recommended that, after the training sessions on Thursday, November 16, the pitch not be the target of any more aggressiveness,” the ONS said in a news statement on November 15, 2023. Just hours before Côte d’Ivoire and Seychelles’ first World Cup 2026 qualifier, a letter has heightened concern once again.
A brief visit to comfort himself
Just a day before the crucial game on November 16, 2024, Idriss Diallo, the president of the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football and the first vice-president of COCAN, grabbed the initiative. He went to see how the pitch was doing. Other than the fact that Abidjan had light rain a little while later, he had nothing to be upset about. It is unknown whether this will be detrimental to the grass. Furthermore, at Jean-Louis Gasset’s pre-game news conference on November 17, 2023, the athletics track was being tidied up to make sure the Stade looked its best. There was no official voice on the hallowed ground of Ebimpé, save for the ONS news statement. Probably out of concern that on the big day, it would be criticized harshly for its quality.
