In the inaugural match of the AFCON 2023 tournament, Ivory Coast triumphed over Guinea Bissau with goals from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso at the Olympic Stadium Ebimpe in Abidjan on Saturday night.
Seko Fofana, the 28-year-old player from Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia, initiated the scoring in the fourth minute, showcasing his prowess. Despite hitting the woodwork in the 35th minute, he narrowly missed securing a brace in the tournament. The Elephants of Ivory Coast dominated the first half, securing a solitary goal in a closely contested match.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, Jean-Philippe Krasso doubled the lead, sparking jubilation among the orange-clad supporters in the packed 60,000-seater stadium, where drums and songs adorned the atmosphere.
Evan Ndicka of Ivory Coast received the first yellow card of the tournament in the 30th minute, while Sangare also earned a card. Moro Cassama from Guinea Bissau was booked a minute before the end of the first half due to a foul on Krasso. Substitutions were made by both teams, with Singo, Diomande, Sangare, Krasso, and Bamba coming in for Ivory Coast, while Cassama, Rodrigues, Balde, and Mane were substituted for Guinea Bissau.
The match saw both teams with ten shots each, with four on target for the host nation and three for the visitors. At full time, Ivory Coast had a possession rate of 62%, securing three points and leading Group A on Match Day 1.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to face Equatorial Guinea tomorrow at 3 pm (UTC+1) in another exciting fixture.