ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST — Ivory Coast defeated Ghana 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday, with Brighton’s Malick Yalcouye scoring on his debut and Franck Kessie adding a second from the penalty spot.
The match, played at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, was a crucial encounter in Group H of the qualifiers, with both teams seeking to strengthen their chances of reaching the 2027 AFCON in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The victory moves Ivory Coast closer to qualification, while Ghana faces an uphill task to secure their place in the tournament.
Yalcouye, who recently joined Brighton from Swedish club IFK Göteborg, was handed his first cap by coach Emerse Faé and marked the occasion with a composed finish in the 34th minute. The young forward latched onto a through ball from Simon Adingra, rounded the Ghanaian goalkeeper, and slotted into an empty net to send the home crowd into raptures.
“I am very happy to score on my debut for my country. It is a dream come true. I want to thank the coach for believing in me and my teammates for their support. This is just the beginning,” Yalcouye said after the match.
Ghana, coached by Otto Addo, struggled to contain Ivory Coast’s attacking pressure and were fortunate not to concede more goals in the first half. The Black Stars’ best chance fell to Mohammed Kudus in the 22nd minute, but his effort was saved by Ivorian goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 67th minute when Franck Kessie converted a penalty after Ernest Nuamah was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. The Saudi Arabia-based midfielder sent the Ghanaian goalkeeper the wrong way, scoring his 12th international goal and sealing the victory for the Elephants.
“The penalty was a turning point. It gave us the cushion we needed, and from there, we controlled the game. I am proud of the team. We played with discipline and determination,” Kessie said.
Ghana pushed for a consolation goal in the closing stages, but Ivory Coast’s defence held firm, marshalled by captain Serge Aurier and Evan Ndicka. The Black Stars were reduced to ten men in the 82nd minute when defender Alexander Djiku was shown a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Adingra.
“It was a difficult match. Ivory Coast was the better team today. We have to accept the defeat and focus on our next game. We still have a chance to qualify, and we will fight until the end,” Addo said after the match.
The victory moves Ivory Coast to the top of Group H with nine points from four matches, while Ghana remains third with four points, behind second-placed Zambia on goal difference. The Elephants are now in a strong position to qualify for the tournament, with two matches remaining.
Ivory Coast’s next fixture is an away trip to Zambia in October, while Ghana will host Zambia in a crucial double-header. For now, the Elephants are celebrating a convincing victory over their regional rivals, and Yalcouye’s debut goal has given the team a new attacking option as they prepare for the AFCON.
As the qualifiers continue, both teams will be looking to secure their places in the tournament. For Ivory Coast, the victory over Ghana is a statement of intent, while Ghana must regroup quickly to keep their qualification hopes alive. For now, the Elephants have the bragging rights, and Yalcouye’s debut will be remembered for a long time.
