Brussels (AFP)
Belgium, deprived of its executives, conceded a draw against Côte d'Ivoire (1-1) on Thursday at the Roi-Baudouin stadium in Brussels, ending a series of 12 straight victories.
The Red Devils lined up without any of its usual holders and therefore without any of its stars (Courtois, Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens, Witsel, Lukaku).
The men's game of coach Roberto Martinez was therefore logically disjointed.
Under its conditions, the 7,000 spectators at the Roi-Baudouin stadium did not have much to eat in the first period, not even the slightest shot on target.
The Devils still found the opening in the 53rd minute thanks to a recovery of Michy Batshuayi (his 19th goal in selection) on a center of the "Milan" Alexis Saelemaekers.
But three minutes from time, they were joined to score on a penalty from Kessié, following a foul by Bornauw.
Martinez will not be able to learn much from this meeting before the upcoming trips to the League of Nations, Sunday in England and Wednesday in Iceland.
For these next two matches, the coach will find most of his executives with the exception of Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard, injured.
On the Ivorian side, the French coach Patrice Beaumelle, whose first appearance at the head of the African team, will be able to be satisfied to have hung the first team of the Fifa ranking.
© 2020 AFP