Brighton striker Malick Yalcouye made a dream debut for Ivory Coast by scoring in a 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory over Ghana in Bouake on Thursday. The 20-year-old unleashed a shot from just outside the box on 44 minutes that beat goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi at his near post in the Group C matchday one showdown.
Captain Franck Kessie created the opening goal, and the veteran midfielder doubled the lead on 58 minutes by converting a penalty. Already without midfielder Mohammed Kudus, Ghana suffered further blows with the late withdrawals of injured strikers Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo. The clash of west African giants pitted high-profile coaches Herve Renard and Carlos Queiroz against each other. Renard returned when the contract of Emerse Fae was not renewed after a last-32 World Cup exit.
In 2015, the Frenchman guided the Ivorians to the second of their three AFCON titles. Portuguese Queiroz took charge of Ghana shortly before the 2026 World Cup. He previously managed Real Madrid and twice was an assistant to then Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. On the first day of qualifying for the 2027 AFCON in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Zimbabwe staged a dramatic comeback to beat Sierra Leone 3-2 in Moroccan port city El Jadida.
Trailing by two goals after 71 minutes of the Group E match, captain Marshall Munetsi pulled one goal back, then struck the 89th-minute winner. In the same section, the Democratic Republic of Congo overcame Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in Kinshasa. – Wissa scores – Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa scored in the second half after captain Chancel Mbemba had put the Congolese in front with a fourth-minute header.
Libya snatched a 2-2 Group H draw with Botswana thanks to a penalty converted by Ezoo El Mariamy in the sixth minute of added time