Cote d'Ivoire v Mozambique recap - Amad scores winner to put Elephants on a winning start to title defense with 1-0 victory

Côte d’Ivoire are off to a winning start in their bid to defend the title with a 1-0 win over Mozambique at the Grand Stade de Marrakresh.

Amad Diallo scored the winner early in the second half, and that would be the only goal of the afternoon despite some big chances over the 90 minutes.

The Elephants were undoubtedly the favourites heading into this match despite losing Sebastien Haller to a hamstring injury, but Mozambique put up a healthy fight.

Côte d’Ivoire were immediately on the offensive, but found themselves faced with a tight Mozambican defense and were stunned to see the Mambas mount the first shot on target.

Amad and Wilfried Zaha then settled into the match to put up a better fight late in the first half, but they were continuously denied by keeper Ernani Siluane.

Coming back from the break, Mozambique had yet to switch back on, and Amad delivered a nodded ball from Franck Kessie through Reinildo Mandava’s legs and into the back of the net.

This sparked a revival of energy for the Elephants, but their next attacks were so close yet so far.
It was very nearly a two goal lead in the 90th minute, Kessie gets into clean air, Ernani comes out to meet him and it’s blocked. But a charging Bayo from behind steps up to shoot, gets denied once by a grounded Ernani’s legs, then his second is redirected clear by Ricardo Martins Guimarães who had run back to the empty net.

The Mambas got the final attempt of the match, with Geny dancing his way into the box around three Cote d’Ivoire defenders - only to get just a weak shot that Wesley Fofana caught. 

It was a closer match than expected between the 2023 champions and Mozambique, who had never made it out of the group stage, but now they will await Cameroon and Gabon at 8PM to determine the standings heading into the next matchday on Sunday.

Ah no! Geny dances his way to goal, three orange shirts descend on him but he still manages to release the ball towards the goal anyway - it's weak and Fofana collects.

That was the last one for Mozambique, and the whistle is blown.

What a match! The Elephants have a winning start to their title defense!

Free kick to the Mambas, it goes wide to Mexer then Konan makes it run out for goal kick Cote d'Ivoire.

Bruno wins another free kick, floats high out and they call for a foul in the box.

But before that - how did the Elephants not score! Kessie breaks free, Ernani comes out to stop, Bayo picks it up for a second go only for Ernani to bring his feet up to stop that one, then Bayo takes a third shot that Ernani can't handle.

But Guima is in front of the net, gets a foot to it and tips the ball left past the goal.

Four minutes added.

Mozambique try an attack again, but in ends in a disappointing and harmless ball from Geny. Calila off now for Matola.

Seko Fofana speedy down the pitch - finds Amad, but he gets swamped by defenders. Geny wins a foul, and Mozambique get into the Elephants' half. Geny alive again, brave run down the right, he's fended of by Sangare and he takes a corner for them too!

Unfortunately, nothing comes out of the corner.

Geny again down the middle this time, doesn't have enough help and pulls it back out. Doue gives a weak attempt towards the net and Fonana scoops it up.

Diomande catches Calila and gets booked. Change now for Cote d'Ivoire, Amad pulled off for Diakite.

Lovely block by Reinildo who slides ahead of a cross to Bayo. Nice header from Kessie to Bayo again at the far post but it's wide past an open stretch of goal!

Mozambique are doing a decent job of keeping it 1-0 alongside errors from the Elephants, but they can't seem to find any attacking power to pull a draw.

13,041 fans watching on in the Grand Stade de Marrakech.

Oh and what a chance! Kessie with a lovely touch, finds Zaha out on the left who slides it into the corridor of uncertainty but Sengare and Kessie are just inches too slow to put it into the net. Kessie slides into the post but seems to be okay.

Subs abound now, for the Mambas - Domingues on for Kamala, Bangal for Ratifo, GIldo for Witi.

Bayo on for Zaha, Fofana on for Seri for the Elephants.

Konan down the left, gets it to Zaha just outside the box who takes a touch too long and Bruno blocks!

Then it's through to Konan again, who unselfishly tries the cutback but it will be blocked again. Perhaps he should have taken it.

Cote d'Ivoire corner, it's short and they pull it back to their half.

Konan now trying to get Mozambique forward, but Diomande wins the ball.

Zaha now in for the Elephants, goes a little wide to Konan who is there to keep it in the box, gets it to Kessie for a header - wide by an inch.

Rain is coming down in earnest now in Marrakesh. Free kick for the Elephants, Amad's ball floats to the far post and Ernani bats it away.

Throw in Cote d'Ivoire.

Amad gets the first! Third for his country, and the defending champions have finally scored!

How disappointing, Kessie brings a cross down to Amad and the Mozambique defense just hadn't switched on.

How long until we finally see our first goal, and who will it be? It was a tight first half and it will be an exciting second. There hasn't been a goalless draw yet.

One last potential effort by the Elephants, but Witi kicks it clear to finish off the first half. Chiquinho Conde will surely be pleased to have Cote d'Ivoire scoreless into the break.

Ernani is a star!

The ball is crossed in by Doue, finds only Calila in the box who heads it over the goal to safety. Then comes a corner who is punched away by the keeper, but the Elephants get back into it quickly, Kossounou swipes it quick into the box, it deflects out of Ernani's hands to Kessie, but his weak header is saved straight into Ernani's chest.

He beams after that close shave and Mozambique will breathe a sigh of relief.

Two added minutes.

Amad on the right again, he's doing some nice work for the Elephants as he settles into this match. Goes to the left for Zaha to try and run it in now, but Geny swoops in on the ball and wins a foul.

Mozambique find a way through, gets down to the left but Cote d'Ivoire are ready for the run in. They break now, forcing the Mambas back quickly but Reinildo comes in with a lovely tackle to stop a dangerous Amad.

The referee is running for his life out here.

Lovely little 1-2 from the Elephants into the box but it's nicely defused. Mozambique are keeping a tight defence.

It's wide! Amad threads the ball through the box, it goes to Konan and it's not a good connection! It skates back through the corridor of uncertainty and it goes past the far post.

Witi earns himself a yellow for a dangerous challenge from behind, and now it's free kick Cote d'Ivoire. Zaha takes, and the Mambas clear again.

Cote d'Ivoire get a free kick and Zaha will deliver a big shot from distance! Ernani does well to punch it firmly away.

Short corner, Amad with the shot and it curls above the crossbar. Double eggs on the scoreboard still, Cote d'Ivoire are decidedly on the attack but they are struggling to make some real attempts past the Mambas' defence.

Amad chases down the ball into Mozambique's right corner, whips it over to Diomande but it's not the best touch and Ernani has time to lift it over the net. Still on target but it should have been lower.

Corner to the Elephants, it's not a bad one but Mozambique do well to diffuse the threat and take the ball. Cote d'Ivoire have three shots on target to Mozambique.

Amad back in the action, he curves his way to the box with three defenders descending on him and he wins a free kick off Witi! Big chance here for the Elephants as he is mere feet from the edge of the box.

He smashes the ball straight into the wall, a rather poor effort and a waste of a massive opportunity.

Doue then runs the ball into the Mamba's final third again - and the cross goes long over everyone's heads.

Good over the top ball to Calila, nice cross to pick out Witi in the box - but Seri gets there just before him and it goes out.

A ball comes over again, Calila brings it down well and ultimately wins a corner.

The ball whipped in by Retifo but it heads wide for goal kick. They're even on attacks, what a match we have on our hands!

Zaha gets a header but it goes high and Ernani catches it easily.