While missteps will be very costly in one of the toughest Group F (Gabon, Cameroon), Côte d’Ivoire did not miss out on its entry into the competition against Mozambique. Never worried by an opposing team which suffered greatly, Emerse Faé’s team started off on the right foot, but will have to be more effective in front of goal for the rest of the tournament.
Diallo-Diomandé, infernal duo
From the first minutes, Yan Diomandé stands out. The revelation of Leipzig sends a center shot near the post which sets the tone. As is customary since the start of this Moroccan CAN, the meeting took place in pouring rain but the African champions did not come for the cold shower. Geny Catamo misses at the edge of the area and the best Mozambican opportunity goes by the wayside. The rest will mainly be interventions from Mexer or Reinildo, or even Ernan Siluane, solid in his goals. Because the Ivorians have the wind in their sails and are pushing hard, led in particular by Diomandé and Amad Diallo, who set fire to their respective wings and have a real heatwave around the half-hour mark.
If the two friends clearly lack finishing in turn, we feel that deliverance is in their hands. Wilfried Zaha tries to follow suit, but he is difficult to find and lacks cutting edge in his rare situations. In his technical square, Chiquinho Condé senses the danger coming and begins to lose his nerve, the complete opposite of the placid Faé. The fact remains that the latter’s formation still does not make the difference and when they return to the locker room, the two teams are tied. There are still a few clear converted opportunities missing, like this off-target shot from Ghislain Konan after a huge job from Diallo, or this header from Franck Kessié that wasn’t strong enough.
One goal and that’s it
If the rain increases in intensity, so will the Ivorians. In sight on his right flank, Guéla Doué crosses towards Kessié who heads back into the axis of the penalty area. Launched like a ball, Diallo recovers and finally opens the score (1-0, 49e). After 45 fruitless minutes, the Elephants finally made the difference. Then followed a fine collection of missed opportunities from Diomandé’s teammates, a little less prominent in the second act, while Kessié brushed the target with his header, Zaha’s cross passed very close to the tip of Ibrahim Sangaré’s crampon and Vakoun Issouf Bayo in turn missed his header. At the edge of added time, Bayo, Kessié and Seko Fofana all three missed each other in a rather incomprehensible way while the second named appeared alone face to face at the origin, Catamo made the Ivorians go through one last scare with a hell of a slalom in the defense. His shot does not worry Yahia Fofana and Ivory Coast takes the three points for its entry into the running, like two years ago.
Top 50: the greatest African selections in history (30 to 21)
Marcus Cole is a senior football analyst at Archysport with over a decade of experience covering the NFL, college football, and international football leagues. A former NCAA Division I player turned journalist, Marcus brings an insider's understanding of the game to every breakdown. His work focuses on tactical analysis, draft evaluations, and in-depth game previews. When he's not breaking down film, Marcus covers the intersection of football culture and the communities it shapes across America.
