Closely monitored by Jean-Luis Gasset since his return from suspension in June 2023, Gbohouo Sylvain is working hard at Stade d'Abidjan to give himself a chance of playing at the AFCON on home soil.
Gbohouo has a single goal: to play the CAN 2023 at home
Sylvain Gbohouo, suspended from January 2022 to June 2023, returned to the pitch a few months ago. The Ivorian international, African champion in 2015 with the Elephants, has nevertheless lost none of his ambition."I'm coming back to get my starting place back. And that's for sure because I'm working hard for it.And it's a personal revenge for me.The ultimate goal is to win the AFCON in Abidjan," he warned.
He then agreed to sign a one-season contract with Stade d'Abidjan, the first Ivorian club to win the CAF Champions League in 1966."We approached Sylvain (Gbohouo) and told him about our objectives. He's an international, and was a regular with the Elephants before his suspension for taking a banned product. He played for TP Mazembe, who pay big wages, but we asked him to make an effort and he agreed," confides Camara Karim, president of the Stade d'Abidjan soccer section.
AFCON as motivation
At Brofodoumé, on the outskirts of Abidjan, where his team trains, Gbohouo shows great drive and determination. According to his new employers, convincing him to join an ambitious club was far from an easy task. "He wanted it so badly that when we asked him to join us, he didn't hesitate. He lowered his expectations, because it's not the money that's motivating him to come back, but the African Cup of Nations. He's so keen to play that he's working three times as hard. The AFCON is his motivation, we can say that clearly", adds Camara.
Are these sober but flattering words a source of hope for Gbohouo? It's hard to say. "I'm confident.I think morale is the most important thing. I'm working hard, and the rest is up to the coach. But I want to play in this competition at home," confessed the player on the eve of the match against promoted Zoman FC on October 9, 2023. That game ended in another narrow defeat. One thing is certain: Gasset is now keeping a close eye on his performances.
