KUMASI - Ivory Coast coach Gerard Gili remains confident his team will go all the way in the African Nations Cup as they prepare for their toughest test yet in Thursday's semi-final against defending champions Egypt.
The Elephants have only claimed the trophy once in their history, back in 1992, and Gili is determined to add to that success 16 years later.
Ivory Coast came into the tournament as favourites and have lived up to their billing, their latest impressive triumph a 5-0 hammering of Guinea in the quarter-final. In all they have scored 13 goals and conceded just one.
However, they face a formidable team in the Egyptians, who beat them on penalties in the final of the 2006 edition.
Nonetheless, Gili has full confidence his side will get through to the final.
"We do not doubt," he said. "We have the team to go all the way. The squad have been preparing for this for a long time.
"From the World Cup (in 2006), Ivory Coast have learned how to deal with big events and they know how to handle big games, on and off the field."
The Frenchman feels his side have enough strength in depth to deal with their last-four rivals.
"To win this cup, you need a 23-man squad, not just only 11 players and everybody needs to be at his best," he said.
"And we have a close-knit squad, with a very competitive bench. The players starting on the bench have a very good spirit."
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure faces a late fitness test after sustaining a groin injury during a group-stage match against Benin.
Five-time winners Egypt come into the game on the back of a hard-fought 2-1 win over Angola in the last quarter-finals.
The Pharaohs have surprised many with their impressive attacking play and overall team strength in Ghana.
Coach Hassan Shehata said: "We have done well so far. My players have shown their experience, which is very valuable.
"But now we take on Ivory Coast and both sides know each other well. We will come up with a suitable game-plan, suitable tactics and with the suitable players to confront them.
"When you want to win you have to play attacking football but, of course, not forget the defence."
His assistant Shawky Gharib agrees, and is confident the Egyptians have a good enough squad to match their opponents.
"Ivory Coast have a very good team but so have we," he said. "We played them in the final and group phase at the last Nations Cup and they didn't beat us then, so we're not worried about them."
Striker Mohamed Zidan is expected to return after missing the last game.
The two sides have met on nine previous occasions in the tournament with Egypt managing six outright wins to the Ivorians' one. The other two games were decided on penalties, with both won by the North Africans.
