Defending Champions Côte d’Ivoire Grind Out a Tough Win Against Mozambique
So, the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign has officially begun for Côte d’Ivoire, and it was not an easy night by any means. The defending champions had to dig deep, stay patient, and show real discipline to secure a narrow 1–0 victory over a stubborn Mozambique side in their Group F opener, played at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
From the very first whistle, it was clear this was not going to be a comfortable walk in the park for the Elephants. Mozambique came in with nothing to lose and set up to frustrate, pressing smartly and looking to exploit space behind the Ivorian defense. Early on, the Ivorians were even caught out a few times on the counter, and Mozambique managed to get a couple of shots away, though nothing truly alarming was created.
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As expected, Côte d’Ivoire controlled most of the ball. Possession was tilted in their favor, passes were patiently circulated, and the game was largely played in the Mozambican half. However, despite creating several promising moments before halftime, the final touch was missing. Chances fell to players like Konan, Kessié, and Amad Diallo, but either the shots went wide or Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan stood firm. By the break, it was still 0–0, and a sense of tension had settled in.
That tension was finally broken shortly after the restart. Just four minutes into the second half, the breakthrough arrived. A well-worked move down the flank saw Guéla Doué deliver a precise cross, Kessié cleverly redirected the ball inside the box, and Amad Diallo reacted fastest. The Manchester United winger surged forward and finished calmly, and just like that, the champions were ahead. It was a moment of quality that ultimately decided the match.
After the goal, the rhythm of the game dipped. The rain intensified, the pitch became slick, and fluid football became harder to maintain. Mozambique tried to respond and briefly enjoyed more possession, but clear chances were still hard to come by. Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, pushed for a second goal to kill the game, coming close on several occasions through headers and scrambles in the box, only to be denied again by desperate defending and goal-line interventions.
In the final minutes, Mozambique looked short of ideas, while the Elephants managed the clock professionally. The score stayed at 1–0 until the final whistle, and it may not have been spectacular, but it was effective.
In the end, this was a classic tournament opener for a defending champion. A tricky opponent, a tight scoreline, and a reminder that nothing comes easy at the Africa Cup of Nations. Côte d’Ivoire will be relieved to have started with three points, and Amad Diallo’s goal could prove crucial as the group stage unfolds.
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