In the persistent Marrakech rain, on the historic date of Christmas Eve, the long road of defense began for the Ivory Coast. The reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, carrying the immense weight of expectation as titleholders, opened their Group F campaign with a performance that was more about grit than grandeur, securing a tense 1-0 victory over a stubborn and spirited Mozambique.
In a match where clear dominance on the stat sheet failed to translate into comfort on the pitch, a single moment of composure from Manchester United’s Amad Diallo proved the difference, separating the continental aristocracy from a team whose long quest for a first-ever AFCON victory continues.
From the very first whistle at the Stade de Marrakech, the narrative seemed pre-written. Ivory Coast, ranked 42nd in the world and boasting stars from Europe’s elite leagues, were expected to dispatch a Mozambican side ranked 60 places below them at 102nd.
The early exchanges did little to disrupt this script. Within the opening minute, a teasing, perhaps unintended, cross from Yan Diomande nearly embarrassed goalkeeper Ernan Siluane, whistling into the side netting.
This set the tone for a first half defined by Ivorian pressure and Mozambican resistance. Diomande again threatened approaching the half-hour mark, his miscued shot from a Guela Doue delivery looping dangerously and requiring an acrobatic tip over the bar from the alert Siluane.
As the half progressed, the chances mounted for Les Elephants, yet the breakthrough remained elusive. Ghislain Konan, presented with a golden opportunity after excellent work from Amad inside the box, could only flash his shot wide from a promising position.
On the stroke of halftime, the ever-influential Franck Kessie rose to meet a cross, but his point-blank header was directed straight at Siluane, who gathered comfortably. For all their territorial advantage and a significant 15-4 advantage in shot attempts, Ivory Coast entered the break frustrated, their finishing lacking the precision required to break down a well-organized and disciplined Mambas defense.
The solution arrived just four minutes after the restart, a swift injection of quality that momentarily eased the growing tension among the Ivorian supporters. The move was built on persistence, a cross fired into the Mozambican penalty area. There, Franck Kessie demonstrated his aerial prowess once more, expertly nodding the ball down into the path of the lurking Amad Diallo.
With a defender closing in, the young forward displayed admirable calm, shifting the ball and unleashing a low, side-footed shot that arrowed through the legs of Sunderland defender Reinildo Mandava before nestling in the net. It was a finish of pure instinct and technical assurance, a stark contrast to the earlier profligacy, and it propelled the champions into a lead they would spend the rest of the match protecting rather than extending.
The goal, however, did not open the floodgates. Instead of launching a commanding performance, Ivory Coast seemed to retreat into a state of managed anxiety. Mozambique, to their immense credit, refused to capitulate. While they managed only a single shot on target throughout the entire ninety minutes, their endeavor grew as the clock ticked down.
The introduction of 42-year-old veteran Dominguês in the 75th minute signaled their intent to chase the game. In the dying moments, they summoned one final, heart-stopping opportunity. In the fourth minute of added time, their most dangerous attacker, Sporting Lisbon’s Geny Catamo, found a rare pocket of space inside the Ivorian box. His subsequent left-footed effort, however, was struck too close to goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, who made a crucial save to preserve his clean sheet and the three points.
Just moments earlier, Ivory Coast had squandered a glorious chance to seal the game, with Seko Fofana dithering on a breakaway before substitute Vakoun Bayo saw his follow-up effort blocked in a dramatic goal-line scramble.
When referee Samuel Uwikunda finally blew his whistle, the full-time statistics painted a picture of one-way traffic: 54 percent possession, 15 shots to 4, and 9 corner kicks to 3 in favor of the Elephants. Yet, the lived experience of the match was one of palpable relief for the victors and agonizing what-ifs for the vanquished.
For Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae, the architect of their miraculous 2023 triumph, this was a functional but far from flawless start to their title defense. His team, which had romped through World Cup qualification with a perfect record and no goals conceded, looked uncertain at times, their attacking play lacking the fluidity needed to kill off a determined opponent.
For Mozambique and their animated coach Chiquinho Conde, the result extended a painful historical record. Their wait for a first-ever Africa Cup of Nations victory now stretches to 16 matches across their six tournament appearances.