VIDEO SHOWS: IVORY COAST AND MOZAMBIQUE PRESS CONFERENCES / MOZAMBIQUE TRAINING SESSION RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: TANGIER, MOROCCO (DECEMBER 23, 2025) (STATS PERFORM – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCK KESSIE, IVORY COAST MIDFIELDER, SAYING: "As the title holders, it's clear, we're the team everyone wants to beat, so there's extra pressure. But as the coach pointed out, from the very beginning we prepared, like I said too, we prepared, technically but also mentally and physically, to be ready in every area, not only on the pitch and even off the pitch. So, we're staying very positive and very ready as well to defend our title, quite simply." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) EMERSE FAE, IVORY COAST COACH, SAYING: "Today in African football there are far fewer 'small teams.' We saw it yesterday with Egypt, who had to wait until the last second to beat Zimbabwe. So, there aren't necessarily small teams anymore. We're starting the tournament and we prepared to play against a very, very good team that we know, that we analysed without going into details. But in any case, we know what kind of opponent we'll have tomorrow, and for me and for the players, we approach Mozambique the same way we'll approach Cameroon on Sunday and the same way we'll approach Gabon next Wednesday. That's the objective, to win all the matches. We're not going to start looking at what type of opponent we're playing, we'll try to focus on ourselves and play the best match possible to win, because it's very important to start a competition with a victory." 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) EMERSE FAE, IVORY COAST COACH, SAYING: "No, it's not the fact that we're the reigning champions that makes us arrive here with confidence. I think it's the journey we've had up to now that makes us confident, especially the preparation we had in Spain, which is what makes us come in with confidence, and it's the fact that I feel the players are really involved, really focused, really invested in this mission that makes us confident. But it's not the status of title holders that makes us confident, because it changes absolutely nothing about the fact that you arrive here, and there are many teams that will be aiming to win the title, many serious teams, many teams equipped to win. We're confident because of what we did in preparation and since the AFCON, but not because we're the reigning champions." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DOMINGUES, MOZAMBIQUE MIDFIELDER, SAYING: "I think, as you know, we're a very young team mixed with some experienced players. So, I always try to tell them that it's not always that we're going to have the chance of being in this scenario, the African Cup of Nations, so, they need to try to enjoy it, but enjoy with responsibility, because the first game is always, every game is important but the first one is the most important one. If we can get a positive result it's going to be amazing for us, because it's going to give us more hope." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. VARIOUS OF MOZAMBIQUE SQUAD TRAINING STORY: Defending champions Ivory Coast will not be underestimating Mozambique when they open their 2025 African Cup of Nations campaign on Wednesday (December 24). Speaking to reporters at a press conference on the eve of their opener, midfielder Franck Kessie said the team are well prepared for the tournament. Coach Emerse Fae added that his team are preparing for a tough match against lower ranked Mozambique and stressed that there are far fewer 'small teams'. Mozambique's 42-year-old striker Domingues said that he hopes the squad's blend of youth and experience will help them get off to a good start in the tournament. (Production: Andy Ragg)
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