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18 April 2019
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Ivory Coast (4/12)
A few weeks before its 47th edition, from 1st to 15th June, the Maurice Revello Tournament goes back in time. Since 1967, thousands of players have trodden the Festival’s pitches. Among them, nearly 2000 became international within the sixty-five different nations who have taken part in the competition. To travel through the Tournament’s fifty years of history, each one marked by some famous football players at their debuts, we have imagined twelve dream teams, country by country. Fourth best XI, Ivory Coast.
Boubacar Barry Copa (2000) : The Abidjan-born, who was the goalkeeper of the Ivory Coast team that finished fourth at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000, has enjoyed a successful international career : he earned 99 caps with Les Elephants, won the African Cup of Nations in 2015 and helped his country to reach the final in 2006 and 2012.
Brice Dja Djedje (2010) : The right-back was part of the only African team to have won the Maurice Revello Tournament : Ivory Coast in 2010. Then, he established himself as a solid Ligue 1 defender under the Evian shirt and few years later at Olympique de Marseille, playing 200 games with the two sides.
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Brice Dja Djedje (on the right with the green shirt) celebrating the Maurice Revello Tournament title in 2010
Kolo Touré (2000) : After playing the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000, the centre-back made a name for himself. He played 326 games with Arsenal, 102 with Manchester City and won two Premier League titles as well as three FA Cups. Meanwhile, he became the second most-capped player in Ivory Coast history with 121 international caps. He has also lifted the AFCON trophy in 2015.
Kolo Touré (on the left) and Baky Koné (on the right) during their participation at the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2000
Didier Zokora (2000) : The Ivory Coast most capped player ever (123) has started his international career during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000 (he has notably scored against Japan). The midfielder has then played in several countries : Belgium (Genk), France (Saint-Etienne), England (Tottenham), Spain (FC Séville), Turkey (Trabzonspor), India and Indonesia.
Siaka Tiéné (2000) : Before playing at ASEC Mimosas, Saint-Etienne, Paris Saint-Germain, Montpellier and even in the South African league, the left-back took his first footballing steps during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000. With the AFCON 2015 title and 103 international caps to his name, the full-back is one of the Ivorian national team most emblematic players
Gilles Yapi-Yapo (2000) : Like a number of his fellow countrymen, the midfielder came through the ASEC Mimosac academy before playing in Europe. After his appearance at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000, he joined FC Nantes where he made a name for himself before joining Switzerland. He played for Young Boys, FC Basel and FC Zurich during ten seasons.
Franck Kessie (2015) : He was only 19 when he captained Les Éléphanteaux at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2015. Loaned out to Cesena at that moment, he returned to this parent club Atalanta where he established himself as a key player. Enough to convince AC Milan to splash out around thirty millions to sign him in 2017.
Franck Kessie (standing on the left) was the Ivory Coast's captain at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2015
N’Dri Koffi Romaric (2000) : The left-footed player, who netted a goal against Japan at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000, became a great midfielder. After bursting onto the scene at Beveren and then at Le Mans, he joined Sevilla FC. With the La Liga side, he won the Spanish Cup in 2010. He has also earned 46 caps with Les Éléphants.
Giovanni Sio (2010) : Like Dja Djedje, he was a member of the Ivory Coast national team that won the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2010. The forward has then shone for FC Sion before playing in Bundesliga (Wolfsburg) and in the French Ligue 1 (Sochaux, Bastia, Rennes, Montpellier).
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Ivory Coast players celebrating the Maurice Revello Tournament 2010 title
Baky Koné (2000) : If he hasn't scored during his participation at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000, the small forward (1m64) has been more prolific during his career. After two successful spells at Lorient and Nice, he signed for Olympique de Marseille. With L'OM, he made the double League Cup-Ligue 1 in 2010. He has also represented Ivory Coast at 43 times.
Aruna Dindane (2000) : Another member of the Ivory Coast squad that took part in the Maurice Revello Tournament 2000. Like his former teammates, he was an ASEC Mimosas youth acamedy product. Following his appearance at the Maurice Revello Tournament, he moved to Anderlecht. With the Belgian side, he scored 67 goalsin 174 games and won two league titles. Then, he has joined RC Lens and has also earned 62 international caps.
The Ivory Coast best XI in the Maurice Revello Tournament history :
Copa Barry - Dja Djedje, Touré, Zokora, Tiéné - Kessie, Yapi-Yapo, Romaric - Sio, Koné, Dindane
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Mathieu Lauricella
