Emmanuel Agbadou is ready to live his dream over the coming month, as he departs Compton Park for his Africa Cup of Nations debut campaign with the Ivory Coast.
The 28-year-old has now linked up with his country – the defending champions of AFCON – and his selection feels a reward for patience and hard work.
Agbadou debuted for his country in 2022, but didn’t feature at AFCON one year later, instead watching at home with his brother. This time he’ll be in Morocco, hoping to become a champion of African football himself.
The tournament begins on Christmas Eve for the Ivory Coast, when they take on Mozambique, and should his 18th cap arrive that day, it’ll bring huge pride upon him and his family.
On attention turning to AFCON
“I’m happy because it’s my first AFCON with my team. I’ve waited for it for a long time, so I'm excited to go see my friends that I haven’t seen for one month now, and we hope we will make a good tournament.
“I can't explain the word to say how I will feel. I will be very proud. I’ve waited for this moment for many years, and I will do my best – 200, 300 per cent for my country, because this is a dream. When I was younger, I dreamed to play with my country one day at AFCON, and the World Cup also, and I will just give my life.”
On adjusting from the Premier League
“It’s a big change, but this is football, and we are professional. We need to adapt our minds for this kind of situation, but it’s still football – one ball and everyone trying to win a game. So, it's not a big adjustment, because I think we have the same reality there like here, so it's not a big change.
“The weather will be different, but we’ll use the water. African football is now at a top level and, as players, we are happy for it, because you have the same conditions as when you are at your club. This is very good. I will be happy with more sun in my face.”
On Ivory Coast’s chances
“We are Ivory Coast, one of the big teams in Africa, and every game that we play is like a final, because every team we play is motivated to beat us. We play with this kind of pressure every game, and we are ready to go there to put our trophy on the table and try to get it back. We hope the supporters will come, because Ivory Coast and Morocco are not far. I hope they will be there to support us.”
On memories last time
“Last time I was watching at home with my brother, and it’s more stressful than when you are on the pitch. It was what is not easy, because when I see my friends cry after we lost to Equatorial Guinea, it was very difficult. It's not easy when you are a supporter, and now I'm the actor, I will try to do my best.
“He plays too. If he maybe has two or three days free maybe he will come, but I will be with the team, and my family will try to come, because it’s not far, and it will be good to have support of my family.”
