Manchester United forward Amad Diallo delivered a composed finish to secure a hard-fought victory for Ivory Coast over Mozambique in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F opener in Marrakech. The reigning champions aim to become the first team since Egypt in 2010 to retain the AFCON title, and they began their campaign with a 1-0 win against opponents ranked 102nd in the FIFA rankings.

Key Moments from the Game

After a goalless first half that saw Ivory Coast squander several chances, Diallo opened the scoring just four minutes into the second half. The Manchester United winger capitalized on static defending, calmly slotting Franck Kessie’s knockdown between Mozambique defender Reinildo’s legs to put the Elephants ahead.

Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan was kept busy throughout the match, making a spectacular save to tip Yan Diomande’s miscued shot over the crossbar and denying Kessie from close range. Ghislain Konan also had an opportunity to score after Diallo created space for him, but his shot drifted wide, prolonging the suspense.

Ivory Coast nearly doubled their lead in added time. Kessie broke through the defense but hesitated, allowing substitute Vakoun Bayo to collect the loose ball. Ernan made a key save, and midfielder Guima cleared off the line, preserving Mozambique’s slim hopes.

Mozambique’s Determined Performance

Despite the loss, Mozambique showed resilience, with forward Geny Catamo troubling the Ivory Coast defense. His late shot inside the box forced Yahia Fofana to make an excellent stop, highlighting the threat the Mambas could pose in future group games.

The match also saw history as Domingues became the oldest outfield player in AFCON history at 42 years and 41 days when he came on as a substitute. He surpassed previous age records for outfield players, though Essam El-Hadary still holds the overall tournament record, having played in goal at 44 years and 21 days during the 2017 final against Cameroon.

Looking Ahead in Group F

Both teams return to action on Sunday for their second group-stage matches. Mozambique face Gabon in Agadir at 12:30 GMT, while Ivory Coast meet five-time champions Cameroon in Marrakech at 20:00 GMT.

Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae, who guided the team to the 2023 AFCON title after taking over following the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset, will be looking to build on the win and maintain the Elephants’ 14-match unbeaten streak in AFCON openers. Mozambique, meanwhile, will aim to capitalize on their resilience and improve their chances of a historic first AFCON victory.