Seri says tough tests have hardened them for AFCON title defence

Serie was speaking to SABC Sport after they clinched the top spot in Group F, setting up a tantalising clash against neighbours Burkina Faso in the round of 16 game at the Marrakech stadium next Tuesday.

The Elephants won two matches against Mozambique and Gabon, drew against Cameroon, and Seri says they are in a good position...

"We are the winners of the last AFCON, so we have to show what we are capable of, which we did in the group stage. We are a great team and we will continue to show that."

READ: Pep Guardiola left frustrated as Man City waste chances in draw at Sunderland

Against Gabon, the Ivorians got a scare as they trailed 2-0 early, but they scored two goals in the six added minutes at the end to finish above Cameroon.

Seri, a former Fulham midfielder, commended his team's fighting spirit...

"It was a great game, and to be fair we were good but we made some mistakes in the first half. We stayed together, we didn't lose the faith, and the players who came in the second half did a great job."

Matches between The Elephants and the Stallions of Burkina Faso are never easy, given the ties between the two countries, but Seri, who is playing in his fifth AFCON tournament, anticipates a tough game against their neighbours but believes that they will do the job at the end.