Ghana's preparations to face nearby Ivory Coast were hit by injuries, making it difficult for the team to focus. It was clear that the team was going
Ghana’s preparations to face nearby Ivory Coast were hit by injuries, making it difficult for the team to focus. It was clear that the team was going to struggle and indeed struggled.
Hervé Renard’s return to the Ivory Coast dugout began in style as the Elephants eased past bitter rivals Ghana 2-0 in the opening round of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying at the Stade de la Paix on Thursday night in Bouaké in front of a fully packed stadium.
Ivory Coast’s attack was led by the experienced Nicholas Pepe and Real Madrid’s record signing Yan Diomande, but it was midfielder Yalcouyé who broke the deadlock before the interval, shooting from almost 30 yards to beat Ati-Zigi from the near post after the home team’s dominance.
The strike on the stroke of half-time put Ivory Coast in front and sent the Bouaké crowd clad in orange into raptures.
Ghana, missing captain Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus in attack, struggled to build any rhythm in a first half controlled almost entirely by the hosts, much to the disappointment of the few Ghanaian supporters supporting the team.
The Black Stars improved after the break and pushed for a way back into the contest. Still, any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out when Franck Kessié converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-0, rounding off a composed, disciplined display built on Renard’s tactical organisation and the experience of his back four.
It continues a familiar narrative between the two West African giants: Ghana still lead the all-time head-to-head 15 wins to 11, but Renard, already a two-time AFCON winner and the man who guided Côte d’Ivoire to glory in 2015, has now inflicted defeat on Ghana in the very first fixture of his second spell in charge.
Ghana, under Carlos Queiroz, will regroup quickly with a must-win home fixture against The Gambia on Tuesday, September 29, in Accra, while Ivory Coast travel to face Somalia in Group C. The Gambia kick off their campaign at home against Somalia on Friday.
STARTING LINE-UPS
Côte d’Ivoire (4-3-3):
Fofana; Konan, Ndicka, O. Diomande, Zogbe; Sangaré, Yalcouyé, Kessié; Pépé, Bonny, Y. Diomande
Substitutes: Lafont, Koné, Agbadou, Touré, Oulaï, Tapé, Gboho, Doué, Ouattara, Diaz, Koné, Fofana, Wahi, Zabi
Ghana (4-2-3-1):
Ati-Zigi; Oppong, Opoku, Djiku, Mensah; Sibo, Yirenkyi; Bonsu, Nuamah, Fatawu; Thomas-Asante
Substitutes: Boakye, Asare, Tetteh, Annan, Gyan, Gadafi, Rahim, Sulemana, Adjetey, Anang, Yeboah, Donkor
Referee: Mustapha Ghorbal (Algeria)
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