Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Reactions in Ivory Coast Mixed Over World Cup Tie With Portugal

   Scott Stearns | Dakar 16 June 2010
   Portuguese  fans  watch  a  South Africa 2010 World Cup Group G soccer
   match  between  Portugal and Ivory Coast on a giant screen in downtown
   Porto, Portugal, 15 Jun 2010

Photo: AP

   Portuguese  fans  watch  a  South Africa 2010 World Cup Group G soccer
   match  between  Portugal and Ivory Coast on a giant screen in downtown
   Porto, Portugal, 15 Jun 2010

   Ivory Coast's opening World Cup tie with Portugal drew mixed reactions
   in Abidjan.

   The  opening  match  of the so-called "Group of Death" featured two of
   this tournament's biggest stars: Didier Drogba and Christiano Ronaldo.

   But at the final whistle, neither man could get his side on the board,
   and Ivory Coast and Porturgal settled for a scoreless tie.

   That  drew  mixed  reactions from Ivorian fans watching the match in a
   bar in the capital, Abidjan.

   Rachel  Likikouet  says  it  was  a good match. She says the Elephants
   played the way Ivorians expected. The 0-0 score is good.

   Alex Kouadio is disappointed because Ivory Coast could have won.

   Portugal's  Bruno  Alves,  right,  competes  for  the  ball with Ivory
   Coast's Aruna Dindane, back, during the World Cup group G soccer match
   between Ivory Coast and Portugal at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port
   Elizabeth, South Africa, 15 Jun 2010

AP

   Portugal's  Bruno  Alves,  right,  competes  for  the  ball with Ivory
   Coast's Aruna Dindane, back, during the World Cup Group G soccer match
   between Ivory Coast and Portugal at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port
   Elizabeth, South Africa, 15 Jun 2010

   Olivier Pierre Goba says the Ivorians played well but must now be very
   vigilant.

   "We  have  to  believe.  It is still possible for the Elephants to get
   through to the second round.  We have to believe in winning.

   Gilles  Kouamé  says  Ivory Coast played a good match but they missed
   some opportunities, but in general they played well against Portugal.

   Ivory  Coast  faces  five-time-champion  Brazil  Sunday  and completes
   first-round play with a match against North Korea June 25.

.