After a long period, the Ivory Coast supporters will get to see one of their legends Yaya Toure playing for the country again.
The playmaker’s name is there in the Ivorian team that will go head to head against Sudan in their AFCON qualifying match in a couple of weeks’ time.
Because of Toure keeping away from the international scenes, several kinds of talks were doing the rounds including the retirement rumours as well, but, the canny, old customer is back again proving everything wrong and showing that his journey is nowhere close to coming to an end just yet.
According to Michel Dusseyer, the current manager of the Ivorian national team, in the break, Toure made some assessments and set fresh targets for himself. Whilst at times over tha last season, the chance of Yaya returning has been longer than even the best racing odds UK, it now looks extremely likely that he will return.
In the words of Dusseyer, “Yaya gave every single bit of him to Ivory Coast in the last eight to ten years. Whether it was about contributing as a player or leading the side, he excelled in whatever was asked or expected off him and that’s why, it was not difficult to understand why he sought that break.
“He needed that for a bit of refreshment and also, for self-observation, to reflect on what he wanted to achieve from here on in. I believe he would definitely have his eyes set on another African title and then, maybe, if he makes it to World Cup too, it would only add to his achievements.”
Toure playing in the World Cup might not be that strong a prospect, but, he can surely be the centrepiece for Ivory Coast in the defence of their African crown in 2017.
The Sudan fixture will be Ivory Coast’s second in Group I. They have played one so far and have drawn that.