Brighton striker Malick Yalcouye enjoyed a dream debut for Ivory Coast, scoring in their 2-0 win over Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Bouake on Thursday.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring in the 44th minute with a powerful effort from just outside the box that beat Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi at his near post in the Group C matchday one encounter.
Captain Franck Kessie, who provided the assist for the first goal, doubled the lead for the hosts in the 58th minute from the penalty spot.
Ghana, already missing midfielder Mohammed Kudus, were further weakened by the late withdrawals of injured strikers Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo.
The West African derby brought together two experienced coaches, Herve Renard and Carlos Queiroz. Renard returned to the Ivory Coast dugout after Emerse Fae’s contract was not renewed following a last-32 exit at the World Cup. The Frenchman had previously led the Elephants to their second AFCON title in 2015.
Portuguese tactician Queiroz took charge of Ghana shortly before the 2026 World Cup, having previously managed Real Madrid and served twice as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Elsewhere on the opening day of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Zimbabwe produced a stunning comeback to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in El Jadida, Morocco. Trailing 2-0 after 71 minutes in the Group E clash, captain Marshall Munetsi pulled one back before netting an 89th-minute winner.
In the same group, Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in Kinshasa. Captain Chancel Mbemba headed the hosts in front after four minutes, before Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa sealed the win in the second half.
In Group H, Libya rescued a 2-2 draw against Botswana in Tripoli, thanks to a penalty from Ezoo El Mariamy in the sixth minute of added time.
Veteran French coach Claude Le Roy endured a losing return for his second spell with Congo Brazzaville, as they fell 1-0 to Namibia. The 78-year-old, who is back in management five years after leaving Togo, has coached six African countries in a 41-year career.
Le Roy won the 1988 AFCON with Cameroon and led Ghana to a third-place finish in 2008. During his first spell with Congo Brazzaville, he guided them to the quarter-finals of the 2015 tournament.
Ahead of the Group G opener, Le Roy alleged that some player agents demand up to 40,000 euros ($45,500) before releasing players for national team duty.
Namibia, who played their home game in Gaborone, Botswana, due to lack of an international-standard stadium, secured victory through a 47th-minute header from Bethuel Muzeu, who connected with a cross from Riaan Hanamub to beat goalkeeper Perrauld Ndinga.
