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The defending champions have officially arrived! Ivory Coast began their AFCON 2025 title defense with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over a resilient Mozambique side at the Stade de Marrakech. In a match played under heavy rain, it was Manchester United’s Amad Diallo who provided the spark to ensure the Elephants walked away with all three points.
The Match Breakdown:
First Half Frustration: Despite dominating possession (54%) and firing off 15 shots, the Ivorians couldn't break the deadlock before the break. Wilfried Zaha, making a long-awaited return to the national team, and Franck Kessié both saw efforts saved by an inspired Mozambique goalkeeper, Ernan Siluane. 🧤🥅
49’ | THE BREAKTHROUGH: Just four minutes after the restart, the magic happened. Franck Kessié showed great strength to knock down a Guela Doué cross, and Amad Diallo reacted quickest, firing a low, composed finish through the legs of Reinildo to ignite the Marrakech crowd! ⚽️🔥🙌
90+4’ | Fofana’s Heroics: Mozambique didn't go down without a fight. In the final seconds, Geny Catamo unleashed a stinging drive that looked destined for the top corner, but Yahia Fofana pulled off a world-class save to preserve the clean sheet. 🧤🛑
Key Highlights:
Amad’s Milestone: This marks Amad’s first-ever goal at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament—a perfect way to celebrate his Man of the Match performance! 🌟
History Made: Mozambique’s legendary Dominguês Pelembe came on as a substitute at 42 years old, becoming the oldest outfield player in AFCON history. 🍷💪
Group F Status: Ivory Coast joins Cameroon at the top of the group after the Indomitable Lions beat Gabon 1–0 earlier in the day. 🔝
The quest for the fourth star is officially underway! Next up: A massive heavyweight clash against Cameroon on Sunday. 🇨🇮🆚🇨🇲