“The Time To Shine Has Come” - Cote D'Ivoire U20 Coach

 “The Time To Shine Has Come” - Cote D'Ivoire U20 Coach

By Admin

Cote d’Ivoire is about to experience an exciting moment with the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations - a competition where the young Elephants will have the chance to shine in front of their home crowd and emulate their senior counterparts’ 2023 success. 

Despite having a rich football tradition, the country has never won this trophy in this category. This anomaly is something coach Younes Zerdouk intends to fix.

Appointed to lead this promising generation, Zerdouk is no stranger to African football. After a notable stint with the Comoros and Egyptian club Wadi Degla, he now faces a significant challenge: to build a competitive team capable not only of competing with the best nations on the continent but also securing a historic qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Drawn in a tough Group A with DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and a Central African opponent to be determined, Cote d’Ivoire will need to show character and consistency if they are to go all the way. But Younes Zerdouk remains confident. 

In this interview, the coach reveals his ambitions, his approach to youth football, and the challenges he is about to face. 

Cote d’Ivoire has been drawn in Group A with DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, and the second Central African team. What are your impressions of this group? 

It’s a particularly tough group, but at this level of competition, there are never any easy games. DR Congo and Ghana have teams built for this kind of competition. Ghana has a strong tradition in youth football, as we remember their World Cup title in 2009 with the generation of André Ayew. Tanzania has made huge progress in recent years and comes into this competition with positive momentum after their CECAFA U-20 tournament. As for the Central African team that will complete the group, they will undoubtedly have strengths to bring to the table. We know every match will be a battle, and we must be ready to face the challenge.

You will be playing this competition at home. What does this mean for you? 

It is an honour for Cote d’Ivoire yet another prestigious competition. Playing in front of our fans is an added motivation, but it also brings a responsibility: to perform well, to give our all in every match, and to meet the expectations of the Ivorian people. We know our supporters will be behind us, and we must repay their trust on the field by playing attractive football and achieving good results.

Cote d’Ivoire has never won this competition before. What are your ambitions for this edition? 

It’s true that we have a great football tradition but has yet to win this title at the U-20 level. We want to change that. The goal is clear: to go as far as possible. However, we know we won’t be the only ones aiming for this trophy, and we’ll need to be at our best in every match.

What have you planned for the preparation of this tournament? 

Preparation is a key step to arrive in the best condition for the tournament. We have put together a structured plan based on several areas: assessing the squad, establishing a clear style of play, and fostering team cohesion. We are also working on the physical and mental aspects so that the players can reach their maximum potential on the day of the match. We make sure to leave nothing to chance.

me how to work with young players eager to progress, to instil solid principles of play, and to get the best out of each player. At Wadi Degla, I discovered another approach to football, with players performing in a demanding professional environment. Today, with the this team, my role is to use these experiences to build a competitive team capable of performing well at home.

You’ve gone from coaching professionals to guiding young Ivorian and African football talents. What is your approach? 

Football is the same, whether coaching professionals or young players. What changes is how we convey our message. The U-20s are still in a learning phase, meaning they are receptive and have a lot of room for improvement. My job is to create an environment conducive to their development, focusing on the details that will make a difference at the highest level. Listening, mentoring, and repetition are key to helping them take their game to the next level.

Can you describe your team? 

We have a talented group, with players possessing very interesting technical and physical qualities. Our goal is to highlight our strengths: speed, creativity, and football intelligence. We want a team capable of playing together, of having real chemistry on the field, and of always striving to improve.

You’ve mentioned that one of your goals with the U-20 team is to strengthen the transition to the senior team. What measures have you implemented with the Elephants’ staff? 

We are working closely with the senior team’s staff and the Ivorian Football Federation to ensure continuity between the different categories. They have shared their vision and football philosophy with us, and we align with that approach. We want to prepare our players to one day integrate into the Elephants by instilling principles that will be useful at the highest level. The transition must happen naturally, and this involves closely monitoring the development of young talents.

This competition will also serve as qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Chile. Cote d’Ivoire hasn’t participated in this event since 2003. Do you think this time will be the right one? 

This is an extra motivation for us. We know it’s been a long time since Cote d’Ivoire has been present at this level, and we want to change that. We will give everything to secure our place for Chile. Inshallah, we will make it.

Credit - CAF