Former Ivory Coast captain, Didier Drogba has admitted that the country’s national team have a ‘real problem’ as qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, knockout phase is now out of their hands.

Drogba spoke while reacting to Ivory Coast’s 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea on Monday evening.

The tournament hosts were humiliated at the Olympic Stadium by Equatorial Guinea.

Speaking to Ivorian broadcaster, NCI after the game, the Chelsea legend said: “We will have to get back to work, not only asking the right questions, but also making the right decisions.

“For football and only football because today a nation like Ivory Coast cannot organise such a competition and, of course, get eliminated so early on.

“But in this manner, there is a real problem.”

The defeat against Equatorial Guinea means Ivory Coast finished third in Group A behind Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.

The two-time AFCON winners will still secure a place in the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams if Cameroon fail to beat Gambia on Tuesday.

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