Paris Olympic Qualifier: Why Ivory Coast Women's Team Pulled Out

Paris Olympic Qualifier: Why Ivory Coast Women's Team Pulled Out

Sampson Adedeji

The withdrawal of the Ivory Coast Women's team from the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier continued to generate controversy across the continent, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Federation of Ivory Coast Football ( FIF) announced the withdrawal of the team citing financial constraints as the main reason for their action.

"The Fédération Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) regrets to inform you that the Côte d'Ivoire women's A team will not be taking part in the two matches in the 2nd round of qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games that were to pit them against their Tunisian counterparts.

Given the NSO's decision not to finance the four qualifying rounds of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Ivorian Football Federation referred the matter to FIFA on September 29, 2023, and then again on October 02, to notify them of the Ivorian team's withdrawal," the federation said.

Stakeholders across the continent have continued to ask questions about how a country that will stage the 2023 African Cup of Nations with 24 teams will be complaining about the lack of funds.

Since 2015 and the Women's World Cup in Canada, Côte d'Ivoire has not played in any major finals. What's more, their recent failure to qualify for the Morocco 2024 Women's Cup of Nations against Tanzania has left its mark.

 "We need to reform Ivorian women's soccer as a whole. We need to move on to a new cycle. A decision will be taken concerning Touré Clémentine in the coming days," another FIF official revealed.