Tadjou is also confident in the medal prospects of Ruth Gbagbi, Mamina Koné and Cheick Cissé.

Gabriel Tiacoh remains the only competitor from the Ivory Coast to have claimed an Olympic medal after he earned silver in the 400 metres race at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

The FITKD official feels, however, that at least one of the trio will return from Rio 2016 having achieved the country’s first podium finish in 32 years.

“We are very confident,” Tadjou told the Voice of America.

“Our athletes are mature.

“They are on par with the best in the world.”

Gbagbi, who competes in the 67 kilograms category, represents their main hope of success at the Games in the Brazilian city as she is the reigning African Taekwondo Championships gold medallist in her division.

The 22-year-old, who represented the Ivory Coast at London 2012, losing to South Korea's Hwang Kyung-seon in the preliminary round before suffering defeat in the repechage to Germany’s Helena Fromm, also clinched the gold medal at last year’s African Games.

Gbagbi has thanked the Government for their increased help in developing the sport in the Ivory Coast and says the team for Rio 2016 has been given extra motivation by their supporters.

“Yes, we have a lot of fans who approach us, who encourage us,” she said.

“Ivorians are motivated.”

Four-time African champion Koné, who participates in the under 73kg event, and under 80kg competitor Cissé will also enter the Olympic tournament harbouring hopes of success.

“We used to think of martial arts practitioners as thugs who assault people," part-time taekwondo coach Ibrahima Soumahoro said.

"Now, taekwondo is an Olympic sport. 

"It's taught in schools and universities.

“It is practiced by an elite."