Ivory Coast are barred from playing in Abidjan because of political unrest
The Elephants of Ivory Coast have gathered in Accra for their Nations Cup qualifier determined to put a smile on the faces their countrymen.
The Ivorians' Group H tie 'at home' to Benin has been shifted to Ghana because of the ongoing political unrest following last year's disputed presidential elections.
The Ivorian players began training on Tuesday at a sports complex owned by former French international Marcel Desailly and say they perfectly understand the importance of winning for their country.
"Every game is difficult but I want us to win for the country because it is difficult there now," Didier Zokora told BBC Sport.
It is important for us to win to make the people happy
Ivory Coast's Cheik Tiote
"The most important thing is that we want to give inspiration to the people.
"When they see the team play well, the people are happy. That makes Sunday's game very important."
Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote agrees that "it is important to win to make the people happy" but he is also driven by a desire to end his country's growing reputation as chokers on the big stage.
With maximum points from their first two games, the Ivorians top their group and are overwhelming favourites to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup.
On Sunday, they take on their nearest challengers in the group - with Benin lying second with four points.
And Tiote is hoping that they can not only qualify from Group H but also end their Nations Cup drought in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon next year.
"We have to do our best to win the next African cup," he told BBC Sport.
"We have too many good players so we have to win something.
"Every time we are favourites according to what people say but we have won nothing."
It is a message that Zokora, who played at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, has been passing on to his team-mates.
That's after finishing second at the 2006 Nations Cup in Egypt and exiting at the semi-final stage in 2008.
In 2010, the Ivorians entered the competition as the stand-out team but went out in the quarter-finals to Algeria despite leading 2-1 with just a minute of normal time left.
"Every time people say Ivory Coast is the favourite for the Nations Cup but we never win so it is time we did," he added.
"I have spoken with the manager and players. I am part of a great team but we never win."
On Sunday however, the immediate concern for the Ivorian players is to help their countrymen have something to cheer about in gloomy times.
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