The AFCON 2023 kicked off on January 13. Côte d'Ivoire won its opening match against Guinea-Bissau (2-0). Séko Fofana scored the first goal of this 34th edition.
Côte d'Ivoire were expected to perform well in the opening match of the AFCON 2023. Against Guinea-Bissau, the Ivorians didn't tremble. They won (2-0) thanks to goals from Séko Fofana (4th) and Jean Philippe Krasso (58th).
Without Sébastien Haller (withdrawal), Côte d'Ivoire started this crucial match with an attack comprising Jonathan Bamba, Jérémie Boga and Jean-Philippe Krasso. But in the end, their salvation came from midfield. Séko Fofana, playing alongside Franck Kessié and Ibrahima Sangaré, opened the scoring in the 4th minute.
The former RC Lens player, served up on the edge of the penalty area, resisted the pressure of the defenders and curled in a fine shot. Ouparine Djoco was beaten. The Elephants breathed a sigh of relief and eased off the pace a little. A false rhythm, all the more so as they managed to create a number of other clear-cut chances. Jonathan Bamba twice failed to find Krasso in the right tempo.
After yet another unsuccessful counter-attack, Franck Kessié served Séko Fofana well, but the Al-Nassr midfielder saw his shot deflected onto the crossbar by the Djurtus keeper (24th). This time, Ouparine Djoco was not fooled. Jean Philippe Krasso had the ball in the net, but the Red Star Belgrade striker failed to connect perfectly with Bamba's back-heeled cross (40'). The hosts held on to their lead until the break.
After the break, Côte d'Ivoire made it 2-0 just before the hour mark (58th). Jean Philippe Krasso, who had been lacking in goals throughout the first half, came to the fore in this game. He collected Jérémie Boga's cross, outwitted the Djurtus defense and beat Ouparine Djoco with a half-volley. The Elephants consolidate their advantage but are not out of danger.
As in the first half, Jean Louis Gasset's men again put themselves in danger in the second half.On several occasions, the Ivorian defense was caught out by the Bissau-Guineans. In the 73rd minute, Yahia Fofana, the Elephants' goalkeeper, was forced to make a save. He came out perfectly to intercept a shot from Franculino Djú, who had just come on as a substitute. A defensive gesture that enabled his team to finish the match in style.
Côte d'Ivoire thus kick off their competition with a serene victory, and will approach their other matches with greater confidence. Their second outing is against Nigeria on Thursday January 18 at 5pm GMT.
🟢 La Côte d’Ivoire ne rate pas son entrée dans «sa» CAN en venant à bout de la Guinée-Bissau avec des buts de Seko Fofana et Krasso. #sna #afcon2023 #civ pic.twitter.com/Jpl7XfvggH
— Sport News Africa (@snewsafrica) January 13, 2024
