Guinea’s star player Ibrahima Traore believes Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana are most suited to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 23-year-old’s impressive performance against Ghana in the 1-1 draw in the final Group D tie earned him the Most Valuable Player award but was not enough to sail his side through.
Instead, Mali who beat Botswana in the other group fixture made it through at the expense of the Syli Nationale on superior points gathered.
And after Wednesday’s disappointment at the Stade de Franceville, the young Stuttgart winger who initially tipped Senegal as one of the tournament’s favourites says the title is now between Ghana and the Cote d’Ivoire.
“At the start of this competition I said Senegal, they went out and I said Ivory Coast and Ghana,†he told GHANAsoccernet.com.
“So now it is Ivory Coast and Ghana and I think one of those two teams will win it and when Ghana wins it is good because they deserve it.
“We played better than them (Ghana) but they qualified. They know what it takes to go through, they have experience.
“They showed it at the World Cup and the Africa Cup in the past; they have all the ingredients to win the title.â€
Ghana who aims to end a 30-year wait for an African title will however have to go past a very good Tunisian side in the final quarter final tie on Sunday to be played in Franceville.