ABIDJAN, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- President of Cote d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday called on the country to support the national team after it suffered a 4-0 loss against Equatorial Guinea at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Cote d'Ivoire slipped to the brink of a humiliating exit as the host suffered a 4-0 thrashing by Equatorial Guinea in their final Group A game here on Monday.

"We were disappointed by the Elephants' match, but it's only a postponement. We have a young team, which will improve over the years. So I would like to tell the country not to be discouraged," Ouattara wrote on the social network X.

"We have already won the AFCON twice, in 1992 and in 2015. And I am sure that we will win it a third time, very soon," added the president.

The tournament brings together 24 teams from across Africa divided into six groups, with the top two from each group and the four best third-placed teams reaching the knockout stage.

Cote d'Ivoire placed third in the group with the faint hope that its three points will be enough to end among the best third-place finishers.

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations kicked off here on January 13, and will run until February 11. Enditem

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