Côte d'Ivoire, the host nation under pressure, got off to the perfect start with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan on Saturday evening.
Eager not to miss their home opener, French coach Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephants reassured their fans, who had to wait just four minutes before celebrating the opening goal.
The first explosion of joy in the Stade Alassane Ouattara came from former Lens player Seko Fofana, who opened the scoring with a beautiful curling shot after having resisted the marking of two opposing players.
Things couldn't have got off to a better start for the Ivorians, all dressed in orange, against an opponent who has yet to win a single match in the African Cup.
Fofana, who now plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, almost scored twice in the 35th minute, but his shot from the edge of the area was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco.
Just as the pace of the match had slowed, with the Ivorians dominating to a fairly sterile degree, former Stéphanois striker Jean-Philippe Krasso relieved his side by doubling the lead with a fine personal feat (56th).
Receiving a cross from Jonathan Bamba, the Red Star Belgrade striker beat two opponents with two aerial checks before scoring with a left-footed cross-shot.
This first success was more difficult than the scoreline would suggest, but it will take a lot of the weight off the shoulders of the Ivorians, who were eliminated in the Round of 16 at the previous edition in Cameroon, beaten by Egypt on penalties.
However, Guinea-Bissau were not to be underestimated, and even threatened Yahia Fofana's goal on several occasions, notably when Lyon striker Mama Baldé was sent off injured in the 85th minute.
Favourites on home soil, Côte d'Ivoire will be hoping to claim a third star, following on from their 1992 and 2015 victories, and break the curse of the host nation, which has not won the CAN since Egypt in Cairo in 2006. That was against Didier Drogba's Côte d'Ivoire in the final (0-0, 4-2 on penalties).
And above all, to erase the nightmare of the 1984 edition, also on home soil, which ended in elimination in the first round.
Next Thursday, Côte d'Ivoire take on Nigeria, who kick off the tournament against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
With AFP
Eager not to miss their home opener, French coach Jean-Louis Gasset's Elephants reassured their fans, who had to wait just four minutes before celebrating the opening goal.
The first explosion of joy in the Stade Alassane Ouattara came from former Lens player Seko Fofana, who opened the scoring with a beautiful curling shot after having resisted the marking of two opposing players.
Things couldn't have got off to a better start for the Ivorians, all dressed in orange, against an opponent who has yet to win a single match in the African Cup.
Fofana, who now plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, almost scored twice in the 35th minute, but his shot from the edge of the area was tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Ouparine Djoco.
Just as the pace of the match had slowed, with the Ivorians dominating to a fairly sterile degree, former Stéphanois striker Jean-Philippe Krasso relieved his side by doubling the lead with a fine personal feat (56th).
Receiving a cross from Jonathan Bamba, the Red Star Belgrade striker beat two opponents with two aerial checks before scoring with a left-footed cross-shot.
This first success was more difficult than the scoreline would suggest, but it will take a lot of the weight off the shoulders of the Ivorians, who were eliminated in the Round of 16 at the previous edition in Cameroon, beaten by Egypt on penalties.
However, Guinea-Bissau were not to be underestimated, and even threatened Yahia Fofana's goal on several occasions, notably when Lyon striker Mama Baldé was sent off injured in the 85th minute.
Favourites on home soil, Côte d'Ivoire will be hoping to claim a third star, following on from their 1992 and 2015 victories, and break the curse of the host nation, which has not won the CAN since Egypt in Cairo in 2006. That was against Didier Drogba's Côte d'Ivoire in the final (0-0, 4-2 on penalties).
And above all, to erase the nightmare of the 1984 edition, also on home soil, which ended in elimination in the first round.
Next Thursday, Côte d'Ivoire take on Nigeria, who kick off the tournament against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
With AFP
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