CAN 2023, Cote d’Ivoire makes a successful start

Cote d’Ivoire was present during the meeting that it had been waiting for for years. At the opening of their CAN, and in an Alassane Ouattara stadium as festive as ever, they won 2-0 against Guinea Bissau. A score which could have been even higher if efficiency had been maximum at the front.

Fofana and Krosso put on a show

The Elephants did not even have time to doubt in this meeting. After 4 minutes of play, they were already ahead on the scoreboard. Seko Fofana showed the way forward by shooting the opposing goalkeeper with a powerful shot from the right. Well served by Franck Kessié, the former Lens player skilfully opened his way to the goal. The same duo almost did it again around the half-hour mark, but the opposing goalkeeper had diverted the ball onto the crossbar with his fingertip.

A story in 4 pictures 😝🇨🇮#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #CIVGNB pic.twitter.com/dU9bVvua8x

— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 13, 2024

Just before the break, Jean-Philippe Krasso also missed the break point (41^e) by missing his attempt when he found himself facing the Guinea Bissau goalkeeper. But, the Red Star Belgrade player made up for it in the 58th^e. With a magnificent sequence in the area – a juggling act followed by a pivot shot – he managed to make the difference and put his team away for good.

Ivory Coast mastered the debates

With a two-goal lead, Cote d’Ivoire then set about calmly managing the result. The suspense could, however, have been rekindled in 73^e. Franculino, the replacement for Guinea Bissau, thought he could reduce the score, but Yahia Fofana kept an eye on his line. The Elephants’ cage therefore remained inviolate.

In the end, Cote d’Ivoire won this match without too much trouble. Enough to ideally launch this competition. But, be careful, things get tough from the 2^e day for Kessie and her teammates. They will face Nigeria, the other ogre of this Group A of the CAN.