AFCON 2025: Côte d’Ivoire begin title defence with 1-0 win over Mozambique

Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire began their title defence with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mozambique in their Group F match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Marrakech on Wednesday, December 24.

Manchester United forward Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal as the holders edged past Mozambique in their Group F opener.

The Elephants squandered a succession of first-half chances against opponents ranked 102nd in the FIFA rankings, some 60 places below them.

Amad provided the breakthrough four minutes after the restart, capitalising on static defending to meet Franck Kessié’s knockdown with a composed low finish that slipped between the legs of defender Reinildo on its way into the net.

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Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan was kept busy before the break, acrobatically tipping Yan Diomandé’s miscued effort from Guéla Doué’s delivery over the crossbar and later denying Kessié, whose close-range header was directed straight at him.

Côte d’Ivoire should have opened the scoring earlier when Amad wriggled his way into the box and teed up Ghislain Konan in space, but the left-back flashed his effort comfortably wide.

The champions pushed for a second goal late on, with Kessié breaking clear in added time before hesitating, allowing substitute Vakoun Bayo to latch onto the loose ball. Bayo’s effort was denied by Ernan and then spectacularly cleared off the line by midfielder Guima.

Both teams return to action on Sunday, with Mozambique facing Gabon in Agadir (12:30 GMT) and Côte d’Ivoire taking on five-time champions Cameroon in Marrakech (20:00 GMT).