Zahoui wants team effort

Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui says he needs a committed team effort to lift the Africa Cup of Nations.

With a side boasting such big names as Didier Drogba, Yaya and Kolo Toure, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Chieck Tiote, the Ivorians are favourites for the tournament, which begins in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea on Saturday.

But Zahoui said relying on the team’s big names to provide the spark would be foolish and expects input from all the members of his team.

“I want to rely on all the players and not just an individual,” Zahoui said.

“We have learned from Ghana. Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari are their key players but their coach got results even without them.”

Zahoui praised the impact of CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia, who deputised for Drogba in their recent friendly against South Africa.

“The absence of Drogba did not affect us negatively because we were able to plug that hole with Doumbia,” he said.

“We can’t rely on our so-called superstars. During the 2010 World Cup, Drogba was injured and we still relied on him and it backfired.”