Cote d’Ivoire defeat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in AFCON 2023 opener

A stunning strike by Seko Fofana ensured that hosts Côte d’Ivoire defeated Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in the opening match of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023.

In less than four minutes inside Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Fofana, a player for the Saudi club Al Nassr, grabbed the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a devastating right-foot shot into the net.

Ten minutes before the break, the midfielder also had another chance, but Guinea-Bissau goalkeeper Oupaine Djoco deflected it over the bar.

Côte d’Ivoire, seeking a third continental men’s football crown after previous triumphs in 1992 and 2015, dominated for long periods of the Group A clash without creating too many clear-cut chances.

Mama Balde had the underdogs’ best chance in the 29th minute, but his weak shot was easily saved by Yahia Fofana after Mauro Rodrigues reacted quickly to a lapse in the home defence.

Côte d’Ivoire doubled their lead in the 58th minute as Jean-Philippe Krasso improvised well to juggle the ball in the penalty area before hitting a slightly awkward-looking left-foot shot past Djoco.

Guinea-Bissau came close to halving the deficit with 18 minutes to go after Balde pounced on a defensive error and teed up Franculino Dju, but the substitute’s effort was well kept out by Yahia Fofana.

Dju and Junior Ze Turbo looked lively after coming on for Guinea-Bissau with both sets of players toiling in the humid conditions, but they were unable to put their side on the board as Côte d’Ivoire made a solid start to their title bid.

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