Morocco's defender Manuel Da Costa (L) challenges Ivory Coast's forward Salomon Kalou (C) next to Morocco's defender Mehdi Benatia (R) during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group C football match between Morocco and Ivory Coast in Oyem on January 24, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO
“I am 31, this is my sixth Africa Cup of Nations. I have been to a final and won another,” said the 31-year-old after a 1-0 defeat to Morocco in Oyem condemned the Elephants to a group-stage exit.
“This time things did not go so well. There are young players like (Franck) Kessie, (Wilfried) Zaha… I think they are the future of Ivorian football and I wish them god luck.”
Kalou won the man of the match award but it was Rachid Alioui who scored the only goal of the game for a Morocco side coached by Herve Renard, the mastermind of the Ivory Coast’s 2015 triumph.
Former Chelsea player Kalou, now with Hertha Berlin, won his first cap in 2007 and has played for his country 89 times altogether.