Hosts Ivory Coast secures 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in AFCON opener
Seko Mohamed Fofana of Cote dIvoire celebrates goal with teammates during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match between Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 11 January 2024 ©Weam Mostafa/BackpagePix
Ivory Coast, the hosts nation of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off their campaign in the continental football championship with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.
Seko Fofana gave the Elephants the lead in the Group A match in Abidjan when he scored from just inside the area in the fourth minute.
He almost doubled the lead before half-time but was denied by the opponent’s goalkeeper.
Jean-Phillipe Krasso doubled the lead after showing great skill as he fired in a left-footed shot from eight yards out in the 58th minute.
The win justified the hosts’ massive investment after spending more than 1 billion US dollars to host the continental championship.
The Ivorians now lead group A after they secured the needed win in the competition opener.
In other match of the day, Nigeria will face Equatorial Guinea at 14:00 GMT on Sunday in the second Group A match while 2021 runners-up Egypt and four-time champions Ghana will also be in action later in the day as Group B gets underway.
