Kipre’s delight after Ivory Coast call-up

MOTHERWELL defender Cedric Kipre is celebrating a first call-up for the Ivory Coast — just days after the anguish of his red card against Celtic. Paris-born Kipre, 21, who qualifies for Les

Elephants through his parents, is a late addition to the squad for forthcoming games against Togo and Moldova. A terrific performer for the Fir Park side since arriving last summer, he said: ‘I am very proud. I heard a few months ago of the possibility. Then I met Kolo Toure a few days ago and he told me he would call soon, which he did. ‘My mum also called me and was really, really happy. Last year I wasn’t even playing professional football. This year I am playing every game, so it is a bit of a new world.’ Kipre admitted feeling like he had let his team-mates down after he was sent off for an altercation with Scott Brown in last Sunday’s 0-0 draw, but Motherwell have appealed a decision widely viewed as harsh. ‘When I got the red card, I thought: “I’ve let everyone down”,’ he said. ‘But they worked really hard and played well, so I can only be proud of them. ‘I tried to win the ball. I then fell down and I wanted to stand up, but he (Brown) pushed me away. My first reaction was to try to push him as well but with my foot.’ Kipre, who could potentially be banned for games against Rangers and Aberdeen, vowed to learn from the incident. He added: ‘I don’t think I did a bad thing. I just wanted to get up and keep playing. Next time I won’t react. That’s what people are telling me to do.’