Defending champions Ivory Coast started their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 2-0 win over Zambia at the Stade de La Paix de in Bouake on Friday night.
Ivory Coast controlled the first half’s possession play and made their intentions clear right away. They launched multiple attacks through deft Brighton & Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra, who had the Zambian defence on their toes.
After just 20 minutes, the Elephants had already earned three corner kicks and were in position to score, while US Lecce forward Lameck Banda attempted a few runs for the Zambians but was unable to complete them.
Following a rough challenge by Wilfried Singo, Edward Chilufya was substituted and replaced by Yanga SC midfielder Clatous Chama due to an injury he sustained in the 25th minute.
Despite Ivory Coast’s dominance, Lawrence Mulenga made two crucial saves to keep the Chipolopolo in the game, with the home side’s ten corner kicks and two shots on target in the first half amounting to nothing.
After Adingra cut in a cross on the goal mounth, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo had the best opportunity of the game, but he balloned the ball over the bar with only an empty net in front of him, ending the opening forty-five minutes goalless.
In the second half, the reigning African Champions came out all guns blazing and quickly continued piling pressure on the very defensive Chipolopolo Boys.
Ivory Coast came dangerously close to taking the lead in the 58th minute when Christopher Operi curled in a cross and Oumar Diakite’s sliding touch going wide.
Emerse Faé made his first substitutions in the 70th minute withdrawing Diallo and Diakite for Bèrnie Troarè and Jean Phillipe Krasso.
Three minutes later, substitute Krasso broke the deadlock after receiving the ball inside the box, beating Stoppilla Sunzu and giving Mulenga no chance to stop the ball, putting the Elephants in the lead.
Needing a goal, Avram Grant withdrew Kennedy Musonda and introduced Cagliari striker Kingston Mutandwa in the 75th minute but it was a little too late as Ivory Coast looked like a side that was going to get a second goal.
Zambia won a free kick in the 80th minute— a good chance to equalize, but Kings Kangwa’s kick went straight into the arms of Yahia Fofana.
With nine minutes remaining, a lackadaisical defensive play and careless ball watching by the Zambian defence allowed an unmarked Krasso to once more comfortably put the ball behind Mulenga with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box.
Desperate, Grant handed 18-year-old Zurich FC winger Joseph Sabobo Banda his debut appearance for the Chipolopolo in the 90th minute, replacing Banda but again it was too late.
The match ended 2-0 in favour of the home side, who now go atop Group H with three points, while Zambia will sit at the rock bottom behind Sierra Leone and Chad, who drew 0-0 earlier in the day.
The Chipolopolo who lost their fourth consecutive competitive match will now host Sierra Leone on Tuesday at the Levy Mwanwansa stadium while the Elephants will face Chad.
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