Archive
Tiote Targets Nations Triumph
Written by Newcastle Utd
Ivory Coast star Cheick Tiote spoke to nufc.co.uk before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations
By Tom Easterby
Midfielder Cheick Tiote jets off to join up with his Ivory Coast teammates this week ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, in Equatorial Guinea.
And the 28-year-old anchorman, who started in United's FA Cup defeat at Leicester City on Saturday, reckons the memory of the Elephants' defeat to Zambia in the 2012 final will spur them on to go one better this time around.
"In the final in 2012, everyone was thinking we were going to win but we lost on penalties, and the last cup we lost in the quarter final against Nigeria," recalled Tiote.
"Now we have to do everything to try and win this competition because every year, the supporters are hoping we're going to win it one day.
"We haven't yet, but this year we'll try everything to do that.
"We've got some good players and, when you look at the squad, we don't feel like it's not possible to get to any finals. But you have to everything on the pitch because African football is tough - there's no easy game, and every country's got good players and they want to win.
"I think the best team will win the competition."
Should the Ivory Coast progress all the way to the final on Sunday, 8th February, they would have played six matches by the time Tiote would be available to rejoin the Newcastle squad ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash with Crystal Palace three days later.
But despite having only just reached the end of a busy festive fixture schedule with the Magpies, the former FC Twente grafter insists fatigue won't take hold as he attempts to help his nation to glory.
"I'll be playing for my country so I hope we can do well," he told nufc.co.uk.
"As a professional footballer, you need to expect that and be ready for that, because when you play in England and play for the national team you expect to play a lot of games.
"We are ready for that, and we are professionals, so that's our job and we have to do that. We have to work for our countries and for our clubs also."
Herve Renard's side will face Cameroon, Mali and Guinea in the group stage, with the top two advancing to the quarter-final stage.
Tiote - along with Senegalese frontman Papiss Cisse - will be in action for their respective countries this month and, while he recognises the size of the task in front of him and his teammates, he knows good performances at international level could provide the pair with momentum to benefit United upon their return.
"I hope that we do great when we're away. We have some good players in the squad and we want to be here to play for Newcastle, but we also have to play for our country. I hope we'll do a good job," he said.
"There are tough games for us - they won't be easy. There is no small team in football anymore.
"Everyone has got a lot of players that play at the top level so it's a tough group and a tough competition. I hope we can do everything to get into the final."