The Elephants started their campaign in the tournament in an impressive manner, by recording a victory over their West African counterpart.
Ivory Coast secured a 2-0 win over Guinea Bissau in the first game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday at Olympic Stadium Ebimpe.
Cote D’Ivoire headed into this encounter on the back of their impressive performance against Sierra Leone, hammering the Leone Stars 5-1. Jean Louis Gasset named a strong team in this encounter. The Frenchman started Yahia Fofana in goal and preferred Wilfred Singo, Ousmane Diomande, Evan Ndicka and Ghislain Konan in defence. Franck Kessie anchored Ivory Coast’s midfield along with Ibrahim Sangare and Seko Fofana while Gasset chose Jeremie Boga, Jean-Philipe Krasso and Jonathan Bamba in attack.
On the other hand, Guinea-Bissau manager Basiro Candle named goalkeeper Ouparine Djocco in goal along with a four-man defence which was mashared by Opa Sangante and Fali Cande. Janio Bikel and Alfa Semedo were in the midfield while Mama Balde spearheaded the attack.
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Ivory Coast started the game on a fine note and were soon rewarded for their efforts when Seko Fofana capitalized on a glorious opportunity to strike from close range in the fourth minute of the match. The forward received a timely assist from Krasso to ink his name on the scoresheet. In the ninth minute, Singo came close to double the lead when he headed towards goal but his effort missed the targed by a whisker. In the 22nd minute, Bamba suffered a minor injury and briefly left the field of play for a medical treatment. In the 29th minute, Ivory Coast’s Dicka was cautioned before Guinea-Bissau’s Balde aimed a strike towards goal but his effort was saved. Guinea’s forward Maurio Rodrigues suffered an injury but soon return to the the field of play. Fofana came close to scoring a brace in the 35th minute but his strike hit the crossbar, another opportunity came the way of Krasso but his effort was saved. Guinea-Bissau’s Moreto Cassama received a warning in the 44th minute of the game, three minutes later, Sangare was also cautioned.
The second half of the match started with Ivory Coast making a key change by introducing Serge Aurier in place of Singo.Guinea-Bissau continued to push for an equalising goal, Sangante powered a dangerous header towards the face of goal but his effort went off target. In the 58th minute, Krasso increased his side’s lead with a well taken strike. Manager Gasset made a further substitution in order to bolster his team by bringing on Nicolas Pepe for Bamba. Karim Konate came in for Krasso. Guinea-Bissau’s Rodrigues was replaced with Ze Turbo while in the 77th minute, Willy Boly replaced Diomante. Shortly before the end of the game, Pepe fired a strike towards goal but his effort missed the target.
Ivory Coast now leads Group A with three points and will play Nigeria in their second game while Guinea-Bissau will face Equitoria Guinea on January 15 respectively.
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