With his team looking ahead to the knockout stages of the 2010 Orange Africa Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Eboue spoke exclusively to Puma football about the tournament, the team, fellow Africans and the World Cup...


"Some people say this is our chance to win this African Cup of Nation but it’s not going to be easy because when teams play against us they defend very well. That’s why when we played against Burkina Faso it was difficult for us to score.

 The fact that there are only three teams in our group also affected the way we played. We don’t feel well after our first draw so we really put ourselves together to win the next game."

"We are so happy that Drogba has been made African Player of the Year. I’m proud to know him so well and it makes me very happy that he comes from Africa. When I play against him for Arsenal, Drogba is very difficult to mark. He is so strong and quick and he can score every way. When I play against him he tries his best to score and I try to block him but he’s so strong. I pray God for him because when I joined the Ivory Coast team he helped me settle in... he’s like my brother."



"Playing for Ivory Coast is very good now. Not like it was before when everyone played for themselves on the pitch. Now we play together as a team and when we go out we all go together. We are a very close team. It will be very significant if an African team actually wins the World Cup. It will show to the world that in Africa we have some good players and some good teams."

"We were very sorry about the Togo incident. Togo are close to Ivory Coast and we are like family. I pray for the families for their loss. When I saw my friend Adebayor I feel very sad for him. It makes you think ‘this could have happened to us too’. It makes me feel terrible. I thank God that the players are well but I’m so sorry that they lost two of their teammates.
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