The Ivorian national football team, also known as the Elephants, will be marking the 20th appearance in the continental stage.
Gabon 2017 will mark another occasion where the Elephants will seriously be vying for continental supremacy, and of course they will be considered as favourites, thanks to their star-studded squad and impressive style of play.
Ivory Coast have won the prestigious title twice in 1992 and 2015 though they were runners up in 2006 and 2012.
During the 1992 Senegalese AFCON feat they beat the Black Stars of Ghana in Dakar and brought back the African unity trophy to Abidjan after an epic penalty shootout.
In the Gabon 2017 African Cup of Nations finals, Cote d’Ivoire will be in Group A together with hosts Gabon, newcomers Guinea Bissau and Burkina-Faso.
Best players
Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin) Age: 31. Position: Striker.
He previously played for Feyenoord from 2003 to 2006 and Chelsea from 2006 to 2012. While at Chelsea he won numerous honours, including the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League , four
FA Cups and the League Cup .
Kalou has amassed 83 international caps since 2007 and has represented his country at four Africa Cup of Nations scoring 28 goals.
Cheik Doukoure (Metz) Age: 24. Position: Midfield.
A massive physical presence in the centre of midfield, Dokoure has taken a circuitous route with French clubs and has become one of rhe foavorites to shine in national colours in Gabon.
Fifa world ranking Dec 2016: 34th
How they qualified:
The Ivorians finished qualification surving a scare to earn 1-1 home victory against Sierre Leone.
Aston Villa center forward Jonathan Kodjia acrobatically put the home side in the lead with a well taken volley to seal their place at this years Afcon.
Player to watch: Wilfred Zaha
The 24 year old was born in Ivory Coast but has two caps for England swiched his international alliagance last year ,has two is having a one of his best seasons so far at Crystal Palace.He is expected to bring his form to his national side and assist the Elephants retain the trophy.
Prospects:
They are arguably the strongest of the African teams will rely too much on Kalou for inspiration in defending their tittle.Though they have been having some week positions, the Elephants could well advance past the last eight at Afcon.
2017 Afcon Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sylvain Gbohuo (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Badra Sangare (AS Tanda, Ivory Coast), Mande Sayouba (Stabaek, Norway)
Defenders: Serge Aurier (PSG, France), Mamadou Bagayoko (St Trond VV, Belgium), Eric Bailly (Manchester United, England), Simon Deli (Slavia Prague, Czech Rep), Wilfried Kanon (ADO, Netherlands), Lamine Kone (Sunderland, England), Adama Traore (Basel, Switzerland)
Midfielders: Victorien Angban (Grenada, Spain), Cheik Doukoure (Metz, France), Franck Kessie (Atalanta, Italy), Yao Serge N’guessan (AS Nancy, France), Geoffroy Serey Die (Basel, Switzerland), Jean Michael Seri (Nice, France)
Forwards: Wilfried Bony (Stoke City, England), Max Gradel (Bournemouth, England), Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Jonathan Kodjia (Aston Villa, England), Giovanni Sio (Stade Rennes, France), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace, England), Nicholas Pepe (Angers, French)
