AFCON: Amad Diallo fires Ivory Coast to victory over Mozambique | OneFootball

Ivory Coast beat Mozambique in AFCON opener

Photo: Getty Images

Ivory Coast secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mozambique in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opener on Wednesday.

The two teams were deadlocked at the interval, but Manchester United star Amad Diallo opened the scoring with a decisive strike in the 49th minute.

Mozambique kept searching for an equalizing goal but the defending champions were equal to the task and created their own attacks in the opposite end.

Emerse Fae's men had a chance to double the lead two minutes from time, however, captain Frank Kessie fluffed his line.

Shortly on the other end, Geny Catamo, who plies his trade in the Liga Portugal with Sporting Lisbon, was denied by Yahia Fofana in the Ivorian goal.

As a result, Ivory Coast sit at the summit of Group F, while Cameroon and Gabon are set to lock horns in the final game of matchday one of the continental showpiece.