Perfect start for the host: Ivory Coast wins the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations

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Successful start to the Africa Cup: host country Ivory Coast won the opening match against Guinea-Bissau 2-0 in the Olympic Stadium in Ebimpé. The “Elephants”, who started the home tournament with high ambitions but no less busy, take so much burden off their shoulders.

After just four minutes the whole room is shaking: Seko Fofana, who led RC Lens to the Champions League last season but left the club for Saudi Arabia in the summer, scores a magnificent goal. The Al-Nassr midfielder taps the ball from the edge of the penalty area exactly into the far corner.

A Swiss in the base for Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is indeed rebellious. However, there is still a lack of quality to cope with the Ivorian squad, which is full of players from top leagues. As a Swiss, Mauro Rodrigues from Yverdon Sport is in the starting line-up for the outsiders. But even the Upper Valais can do little against the solid defense around Evans Ndicka (AS Roma) and Ousmane Diomande (Sporting).

In the second half, Red Star Belgrade striker Jean-Philippe Krasso acrobatically made it 2-0. And thus makes the provisional decision. The next step for Ivory Coast is a real tough nut to crack with Nigeria on Thursday (January 18). At the end of the group stage, the Ivorians will face Equatorial Guinea on January 22. (sbe)

Source : Blick