CAN 2023: Côte d'Ivoire inaugurates the Yamoussoukro Stadium with a victory
An Ivorian supporter during the first match of the national A football team at the Yamoussoukro Stadium, June 3, 2022. AFP - ISSOUF SANOGO
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
2 mins
The Côte d'Ivoire team beat that of Zambia 3-1 in group H of the CAN 2023 qualifiers that the country will organize.
The Ivorians played their first match at the Stade de Yamoussoukro and with Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset at their head.
Advertising
Read more
It was an evening of great firsts for Ivorian football, this June 3, 2022: first match for the men's national A team in a brand new Yamoussoukro Stadium, debut of Frenchman Jean-Louis Gasset on the sidelines of the Elephants...
New jerseys on their shoulders, the Ivorian players met the expectations of their 20,000 supporters present in the stands, as well as the new boss of Ivorian football, Yacine Idriss Diallo: they indeed won 3-1 against a selection from Zambia who had beaten them in the final of the CAN 2012, ten years earlier.
Turbulence at game time
This meeting was without big stake for Côte d'Ivoire, automatically qualified for
CAN 2023
as the future host country of the competition.
On the other hand, it was very important for the Zambians, in the fight in group H of the qualifiers with Comoros and Lesotho.
However, the Chipopolo were quite discreet until the hour mark and three big consecutive chances.
It took saves from goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangaré on shots from midfielder Roderick Kabwe (61st), winger Edward Chilufya (62nd) then striker Patson Daka (63rd), to avoid a big disappointment for the Ivorian selection .
These three frank actions, however, had the merit of waking up the Ivorians who had been especially dominating in the first period, with in particular a powerful volley from winger Max-Alain Gradel on the crossbar (35th).
Serge Aurier makes history
Thus, in the 67th minute of play, on a corner played in two stages, a cross from Gradel is deflected with a header by winger Jean Evrard Kouassi.
The ball arrives at the far post where Serge Aurier concludes at close range: 1-0.
The right side becomes the first scorer in the history of the Elephants at the Yamoussoukro Stadium.
In the aftermath, striker Christian Kouamé places a perfect uncrossed header, on a corner from Gradel: 2-0, 76th.
The party seemed almost perfect when midfielder Ibrahim Sangaré concluded a counter-attack, on a back serve from Kouassi, with a low recovery: 3-0, 89th.
The only (small) shadow on the board: Patson Daka reduced the score by taking a ball pushed away by Badra Ali Sangaré (3-1, 90th + 5).
Not enough, however, to spoil the pleasure of the Ivorian supporters.
AFCON 2023: CALENDAR AND RESULTS OF THE ELIMINATORIES
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Soccer
AFCON 2023
Sports
Ivory Coast