This Saturday January 13, Ivory Coast easily won 2-0 against Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of this CAN 2024 at the Abimpena Alassane Ouattara Stadium. The Ivorians start the competition in the best possible way against Duartes still looking for their first win in CAN.
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From our special correspondent in Abidjan,
In a packed stadium and electric atmosphere, after a simple opening ceremony featuring Ivorian hospitality as well as the other 23 teams in the competition, all that was missing before kick-off was one thing to complete the celebrations: a victory elephant.
Also readCAN 2024 Match Schedule
Under the eyes of all the elites of African football, CAF president Patrice Motsepe and many of the continent’s former pride leaders, but also since FIFA president Ginny Infantino traveled around the world, the Ivorians filled the contract.
Fofana lights the first fuse
Backed by an entire country hoping for nothing less than a third continental title at home, Jean-Louis Gasset’s men knew they had no room for error. So the Ivorians were well motivated by opting to make their task easier in the fourth minute of the game. It was midfielder Seko Fofana who lit the first fuse, curling a shot with his right foot at the entrance to the Guinea-Bissau penalty area. Error by defense.
This early start to the score could have predicted a heavy score at the end of the first period, but when they controlled the ball, the Ivorians allowed themselves to be dragged into the wrong rhythm by Djurtas, who was relatively harmless and always looked presentable. For his first win In a CAN For participating in the competition for the fourth time in a row. Only another strike from Sekko Fofana, this time pushed onto the crossbar of Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Oparin Joko, could have leveled the score before the break.
A quiet evening for the Ivorian goalkeeper
Walking back from the locker room, the Elephants finally found fault once again in the 57th minute of the game. After overflowing down the left, Jonathan Bamba’s center found Jean-Philippe Crasseau who resisted pressure from the Bissau-Guinea defenders to send the ball through. Enter the net with a left-foot pivot shot.
Apart from a strike from Guinea-Bissau striker Franculino, which was repelled by Ivorian goalkeeper Yahya Fofana in what was certainly a quiet evening, the Elephants were never really worried until the end of the match. Solid and well organised, the Elephants did not waver, but it is difficult to draw conclusions against what is considered the weakest team in Group A this Saturday. The real test will be on Thursday January 18 against Nigeria, who should be the opponents. Significantly higher quality.
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