Cote d'Ivoire 2-0 Guinea-Bissau: Elephants pop Wild Dogs to draw first AFCON2023 blood

Cote d’Ivoire made the perfect start to their Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, following a comfortable win against Guinea-Bissau. 

Seko Fofana and Jean-Philipe Krasso were heroes of the night as they netted the goals to give the AFCON2023 hosts a 2-0 win at the Stade Alassane Ouattara, Abidjan on Saturday night.  

The Elephants are looking for a third AFCON win as host but were made to work hard for the points by their stubborn opponents, the African Wild Dogs. 

Cote d’Ivoire started on the front foot and took just four minutes before Fofana netted the first goal of the tournament to put the Ivorians ahead. 

The Elephants went in search of more goals led by goal scorer, Seko, who came close to making it 2-0 with an effort just before the break that rattled the Guinea-Bissau post. 

After the break, it was the home side who continued from where they stopped in the first half, piling on the pressure in search of the second goal. 

It finally arrived just before the hour mark when a sloppy ball from the Bissau defence was punished by Krasso, who made no mistakes from close range with a stylish finish to double the deal and seal the game. 

The Elephants held on for the victory that saw them get AFCON2023 off to the perfect start and take charge of Group A, which also has Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.