Welcome to Episode 22 of the Because Football Podcast. Our guest is sports journalist Jaures Drohgba of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Jaures has been covering Ivorian football for the past few years and on this episode he gives us a great insight into the AFCON / CAN tournament from a local perspective.
On this episode, we talk about how Ivorians are preparing to be hosts of Africa's largest sporting event and what international fans can expect to learn about the country. The "AFCON of Hospitality" is sure to put Cote d'Ivoire's warmth, friendliness, and peace on a global stage, says our guest.
We also delve into the domestic league, its recent history of success and today's current challenges. Jaures shares his own experience as a young player growing up with an intense passion for football, as many Ivorian youngsters share. He tells of the current issue in Ivorian football today - high fees charged by academies - which is limiting development opportunities to players whose families have the financial and social capital to play. This system is excluding most of the country's top talents, and Jaures makes a connection between this phenomenon and the current mediocrity of the local league.
We thank Jaures for his time and insight!
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