Ivory Coast, the last champion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), started the tournament with three points by defeating Mozambique 1-0 in its first match in Group F.
In the match played at Morocco’s Marrakesh Stadium, Ivory Coast had an evening where they had difficulty scoring despite being dominant throughout the match.
Young star Amad Diallo, who plays for Manchester United, came on stage in the 49th minute and scored the goal that brought his team the victory. Captain Franck Kessié cleverly intercepted the cross from Guela Doué, and Diallo hit the net with a cool-headed shot.
Ivory Coast could not take advantage of the clear opportunities they had with Franck Kessié, especially in the first half, as they could not pass Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan Siluane.
On the Mozambican side, the defense line led by Reinildo Mandava displayed a resilient stance against the last champion. However, with the star name Geny Catamo in the offensive line being ineffective, Mozambique could not pose a serious threat to the Ivory Coast goal. Ivory Coast managed to fend off the pressure in the last stages of the match and keep the goal shut.
With this result, Ivory Coast gained a significant advantage for the leadership position in the group. A huge appointment awaits football fans in the next week of the group. Ivory Coast will face Cameroon on Sunday. Mozambique will play against Gabon to get their first points.
