Full time: Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau
The hosts begin the competition with a comfortable win over Guinea-Bissau in Abidjan. Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso took their goals expertly, and though Ivory Coast didn’t exactly put down a marker, they got the job done with the minimum of fuss. It’s a long tournament, no point emptying the tank on opening night.
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90+2 min Pepe has a late chance, smashing wide from 12 yards after a good run across the area.
90+1 min Just four added minutes.
90 min: Ivory Coast substitution One last substitution. Idrissa Doumbia comes on for Ibrahim Sangare.
86 min A long ball from Encada is controlled beautifully by Dju in the area. He’s challenged and the ball runs to Ze Turbo, who shoots well wide from the edge of the area. That was half a chance.
85 min: Guinea-Bissau substitution Nito Gomes comes on for Mama Balde. Moments later, a very good cross from Cande is headed wide at the far post by Ze Turbo (who incidentally has his given name, Jose Correira, on the back of his shirt).
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83 min Both these teams play again on Thursday: Guinea-Bissau against Equatorial Guinea in the afternoon, Ivory Coast against Nigeria in the evening. That could be a cracker.
80 min The match is starting to peter out. We see this kind of opening game so often at major tournaments, where a potential winner eases their way into the competition with a statement of competence rather than intent.
77 min: Ivory Coast substitution Willy Boly becomes the third Nottingham Forest player on the field, replacing Ousmane Diomande at centre-back.
76 min Ivory Coast break superbly from a Guinea-Bissau corner, with Kessie eventually having a shot kicked behind for a corner by tje keeper Djoco.
75 min: Guinea-Bissau substitution And it’s a fine day for Kim Thonger (20 min): Ze Turbo has come on for Rodrigues.
73 min: Good save by Fofana! Maybe this game isn’t over. Ivory Coast again lose the ball in their own half, with Balde stealing possession before putting the substite Dju through on goal. He belts a left-footed shot that is pushed away by Fofana, diving to his right. That’s his best save of the match.
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69 min Kessie finds Konate, who charges straight towards the penalty area. Djalo combines across to get between Konate and the ball, a really good piece of defending.
67 min: Double substitution for Guinea-Bissau Carlos Mendes of Bolton and Franculino Dju replace Cassama and Mane.
63 min Boga combines well with Konate and lofts a short-range cross that is headed up in the air and punched clear a little desperately by Djoco. The timing of that second goal has flattened Guinea-Bissau, who were having probably their best spell of the match.
61 min: Double substitution for Ivory Coast The two men who combined for the goal, Jonathan Bamba and Jean-Philippe Krasso, are replaced by Nicolas Pepe (yep) and the exciting teenager Karim Konate.
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60 min That really was a fine goal from Krasso – not especially elegant, as he was off balance when he took the shot, but so quick-witted.
GOAL! Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau (Krasso 58)
Jean-Philippe Krasso makes it 2-0 with a fine piece of improvisation! Bamba’s cross was half blocked at the near post and looped towards Krasso. He lobbed the ball over Sangante and then, as Djalo came across to challenge for the bouncing ball, threw himself into an early shot that took Djoco by surprise and nestled in the far corner.
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55 min Krasso does well to find Boga in the D. His shot is well blocked and spins behind for an Ivory Coast corner.
53 min Ndicka is sent up in the air by Mane, who is maybe fortunate not to be booked.
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51 min Mane’s outswinging corner is headed over by Sangante in front of the near post. A very tough chance, though he still slaps his noggin in frustration.
50 min Aurier loses the ball in a dangerous area, allowing Guinea-Bissau to break three on three. Mane plays an angled through pass towards Rodrigues, but Konan gets back to put the ball behind for a corner. Excellent defending.
49 min Guinea-Bissau are having plenty of the ball at the start of the second half. They haven’t yet shown much up front, but Ivory Coast should be wary of sitting on a one-goal lead.
46 min Ivory Coast begin the second half. They’ve made a half-time change: Serge Aurier is on for Wilfried Singo at right-back.
“Côte d’Ivoire have grown into the match, which feels odd to say considering their early goal,” writes Kári Tulinius. “What’s most impressed me is the variety of their attacks, crosses, through-balls, long-range shots and cutbacks have all featured so far. If the forwards adjust their sights, the Elephants could go far.”
I’m pleased we can see the game completely differently without calling each other effs and cees.
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Half time: Ivory Coast 1-0 Guinea-Bissau
The hosts are ahead after a mixed first half in Abidjan. Seko Fofana scored a terrific early goal and had a similar effort tipped onto the bar by Ouparine Djoco, but that aside their attacking play was a bit scruffy. They still controlled the game against limited, if game, opposition and will expect to close the game out in the second half.
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45 min Four minutes of added time. Sangare is booked for elbowing Balde as they jumped for a high ball. Sangare went down holding his head as well.
44 min Cassama is booked for a tactical foul on Singo.
43 min Krasso’s movement has been extremely good. His finishing, not so much, at least not yet.
41 min: Just wide from Krasso! Ivory Coast break superbly, four on four, with Bamba on the ball down the right. He slides an early low cross to Krasso, who stumbles and knocks the ball wide of the near post. The Ivory Coast players wanted a penalty for the challenge by Djalo, but there didn’t seem to be much in it. I’d like to see another replay to be sure, mind.
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40 min It was Semedo and Ndicka, and they’re okay to continue.
38 min The resulting corner leads to another clash of heads. I didn’t see which players were involved but they’re both receiving treatment.
37 min That near miss has energised Ivory Coast, who suddenly look very dangerous again. Krasso chops back inside Encada on the left side of the area and rams a shot that is crucially blocked with his trailing leg by Djalo.
35 min: Fofana hits the bar! And it would have been another screamer. Bamba’s low cross was desperately cleared but only as far as Kessie. He surged past a couple of defenders and angled a terrific cutback to Fofana, unmarked on the edge of the area. Fofana slammed a first-time curler, not dissimilar to the goal – but this time Djoco fingertipped it onto the bar. That’s a brilliant save.
33 min A hopeful cross-shot from Semedo whistles well wide of the far post. There was no threat of an equaliser, but it’s another hint that Ivory Coast are starting to lose their way after a very good start.
30 min Ndicka is booked for clattering Rodrigues a split-second after he flicked the ball through to Balde.
29 min: Chance for Guinea-Bissau! Ivory Coast need to be careful here. A wretched square pass from Singo is nicked by Rodrigues, who flicks the ball round the corner to put Balde clear. He moves into the area but then, with Diomande coming across, screws a tame shot that is easily saved by Fofana.
27 min “The Mac Signal goes up…” is the frankly ominous subject of Matt Dony’s email. “Ze Turbo. Car parts in footballers’ names. There’s something in that. Whither Millings?”
26 min It’s a more even game now. When Ivory Coast scored so early it looked like they might overwhelm Guinea-Bissau, but actually the keeper Djoco hasn’t had a lot to do. That excellent goal aside, Ivory Coast have been scruffy in the final third.
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24 min Both players are back on their feet and play resumes.
22 min There’s a nasty clash between Bamba and Cassama, and the physios rush onto the field. I thought it was a clash of heads but the first replay showed that Bamba caught Cassama with his elbow.
20 min “Really looking forward to Junior Ze Turbo coming on as a substitute,” writes Kim Thonger. “He has, in my humble opinion, the finest footballing name OF ALL TIME.”
If he’s not a velocista, we might as well all pack up and go home.
19 min Boga shows an exhilarating change of pace to beat two players on the right. He cuts the ball back to Krasso, who knocks it well wide under pressure. He wanted a corner; the referee disagreed.
16 min Krasso volleys over the bar on the stretch after spinning behind the defence. He was flagged offside, though it looked very tight.
15 min Guinea-Bissau are slowly starting to come into the game. Rodrigues pulls down a lovely crossfield pass from Mane and hits an early low cross. Balde is outnumbered in the middle, though, and Ivory Coast clear.
13 min Guinea-Bissau have already lost the ball eight times in their own half, which tells you how well Ivory Coast have pressed.
11 min Bamba plays in the underlapping Krasso, whose cross is too close to Djoco. Ivory Coast look very dangerous in attack.
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9 min: Chance for Ivory Coast An inswinging corner from the left is headed over at the near post by Singo. That wasn’t a bad opportunity.
8 min Guinea-Bissau’s first decent attack. Cande’s cross from the left is missed by Balde, trying an overhead kick when he might have time to pull the ball down, and eventually it bounces through to the keeper.
7 min The goal came from a poor ball out of defence, and Ivory Coast have smothering Guinea-Bissau since the kick-off. A free-kick on the halfway line gives them a few seconds’ respite.
It was a terrific goal from Seko Fofana. He received a square pass from Kessie on the edge of the D, shifted the ball neatly away from Djalo and Rodrigues and slammed a thrilling shot into the far corner.
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GOAL! Ivory Coast 1-0 Guinea-Bissau (Fofana 4)
The perfect start for Ivory Coast!
1 min Peep peep! Guinea-Bissau, kicking from right to left as we watch, get the tournament under way.
The players walk out for the opening game of the tournament. They’re either behind schedule or my TV feed has a frankly problematic delay.
Some opening ceremony that! 🤩🕺🇨🇮#TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/YH1lRUQJeI
— Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 13, 2024
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The stadium is a sea of mild orange. Ivory Coast have won this tournament twice, in 1992 and 2015, each time after a Homeric penalty competition in the final. Everyone in an orange shirt would settle for the same this time – but for now, while the tournament is a blank canvas, they can fantasise about an even great glory.
Osasu Obayiuwana’s tournament preview
You know, this is – excuse me – a damn tough quiz
(7/15, since you asked)
Team news
The hosts are without the injured Simon Adingra of Brighton and Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund.
Guinea-Bissau have stuck with the defence that started last weekend’s 6-2 defeat to Mali.
Ivory Coast (possible 4-3-3) Y Fofana; Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, S Fofana; Bamba, Krasso, Boga.
Substitutes: Seri, Kossonou, Konate, Boly, Diakite, Gradel, Aurier, Pepe, Kouame, B Sangare, Doumbia, Ismael.
Guinea-Bissau (possible 4-3-3) Djoco; Encada, Sangante, Djalo, Cande; Cassama, Bikel, Semedo; Teixeira, Balde, C Mane.
Substitutes: J Mendes, Dju, H Mendes, N Gomes, Dalcio, Gano, Tchami, C Gomes, S Mane, Nanu, Ze Turbo, Miguel le.
📋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈 📋
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 13, 2024
Here's how both teams will start the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 opening game! 👇 #CIVGNB pic.twitter.com/STJri1egfN
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023: the hosts Ivory Coast v Guinea-Bissau. It’s the first of 52 games over the next four weeks, culminating in the final on Sunday 11 February. And we’re due a good tournament.
In recent times the African Cup of Nations has looked better on paper than on the pitch, with a head-scratchingly low goals-per-game average. But it is at least a model of competitiveness and unpredictability. Since Egypt won three in a row between 2006-10, there have been six tournaments and six different winners – none of whom, to Mo Salah’s abundant chagrin, have been Egypt.
Egypt are among a list of maybe 10 potential winners this time. Morocco, World Cup semi-finalists 13 months ago, are favourites. Ivory Coast, hosts for the first time since 1984, are also on fancied, as you’d expect of a team with enough attacking talent to leave Wilfried Zaha out of the entire squad. It will be a surprise if they don’t start with a comfortable win tonight.
Guinea-Bissau have never won a game at the Africa Cup of Nations and are among the outsiders. But a forgiving format (six groups of four, top two and the four best third-placed teams go through) gives all 24 teams hope of reaching the knockout stages. Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are the other teams in Group A; they meet tomorrow afternoon.
Kick off 8pm in Abidjan, 8pm GMT.
The hosts are here with one dream: “bring it home” 💭 #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #CIVGNB pic.twitter.com/KMPix3ojhN
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 13, 2024
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