Ivory Coast (Group D)

Ivory Coast eased themselves over the qualifying line in a series of displays that asked more questions than it answered. It left new coach Hervé Renard recalling two old stalwarts, Kolo Touré and Didier Zokora, and bidding to entice Didier Drogba back too. The Frenchman replaced Sabri Lamouchi after the World Cup but has a delicate task of replacing an ageing generation. For the last fve tournaments the Elephants have been strong favourites but will go into this tournament with no such status.

COACH

Renard, 46, returned to take charge of Zambia for a second spell just before the 2012 Nations Cup and led them to their first continental title. He had left after the 2010 tournament to become coach of Angola, but was fred after just six months and moved on to USM Alger in Algeria. His second spell with Zambia ended after failure to qualify for the 2014 World Cup but he was hired by Sochaux, who he almost saved from Ligue 1 relegation in May. He was appointed Ivorian coach after the World Cup.

KEY PLAYERS

Kolo Touré, Yaya Touré and Siaka Tiene will play in a sixth successive finals, with Gervinho and Salomon Kalou going to a fifth in a row. That means considerable experience but there are also gaping holes that make the Ivorians much less of a force. Boubacar Barry has lost his place in goal after over a decade and centre-backs Ousmane Viera and Kolo Touré do not inspire.

LIKELY STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): 

Mande Sayouba - Serge Aurier, Ousmane Viera, Kolo Touré, Siaka Tiene - Serey Die, Cheikh Tioté - Salomon Kalou, Yaya Touré, Gervinho - Wilfried Bony.