Almost three years after his last selection (November 2019), Séko Fofana is making his return to the Ivorian selection. Jean-Louis Gasset called the Lens midfielder back to action on Thursday, September 15. He will face Togo and Guinea respectively, in France, September 24th and 27th. If in the North of France, the former Manchester City player is the star and is essential, in Côte d’Ivoire, the Ivorians, impatient, are still waiting to really discover him under the orange jacket. Fans and observers alike are curious about what role he will play and if it will allow him to shine as in Blood and Gold. It is also up for debate how he behaves in the locker room. There are strong heads among the 2015 African champions, just like him. Ibrahim Sangaré, Michael Seri and Franck Kessié got ahead of him.
The ideal location
Everyone, in any case a large part of the Ivorians, considers Séko Fofana as a messiah because he shines in Lens. But what is his role at RCL? What is the extent of its complicity in the Lensois partnership? Is it likely to have the same role as the Elephants and therefore the same impact? There are many opinions on this. “I think we have to play Fofana in front of the defense. In a sentinel role with Sangaré Ibrahim at his side. He projects himself as a player. He’s a box to box midfielder but you need someone to compensate for his angry climbs just as he could himself compensate for those of Sangaré who is also offensive at times. explains Tchétché Aimé, former Ivorian international and TV presenter on the national channel.
“It is absolutely necessary to play Séko in the same register as in Lens. You should allow him to move about in the middle of the stage and not restrict him to any one place. His technical abilities and his exceptional ability for percussion make him very offensive. He therefore needs a guy like the PSV player, Sangaré and why not, in a trident, Kessié or Seri Michaël in addition to the two ”, analysis for his part Babou Éric, former player of Africa Sports in Abidjan and consultant at Canal + Côte d’Ivoire.
In addition to the field, Séko Fofana will have to reconnect to the Ivorian locker room. He didn’t have this build or status when he was first selected. He is now a clear choice for the executive role. Will this cause a problem for the group? “I don’t think so. Humility is a hallmark of the first steps or returns into a locker-room. At first, Séko Fofana will make himself small even if, I’m sure, everyone will put him at ease. With his aura, he’ll take his rightful spot, but it’s impossible to predict the storm between strong heads in locker room.Babou assures As attacking or defensive midfielder GassetThe French coach for the Elephants, “the return of Seko Fofana is necessarily an added value for the Ivorian selection”.
Severin SANH
Source: sportnewsafrica
