Yalcouye makes dream debut as Ivory Coast beat Ghana in AFCON qualifier

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Ivory Coast’s midfielder #08 Franck Késsié kicks and scores a penalty during the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying football match between Ivory Coast and Ghana at the Stade de Bouake on September 24, 2026. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP)

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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.

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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.

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Captain Franck Kessie created the opening goal, and the veteran midfielder doubled the lead on 58 minutes by converting a penalty.

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Already without midfielder Mohammed Kudus, Ghana suffered further blows with the late withdrawals of injured strikers Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo.

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The clash of west African giants pitted high-profile coaches Herve Renard and Carlos Queiroz against each other.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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In the same section, the Democratic Republic of Congo overcame Equatorial Guinea 2-0 in Kinshasa.

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– Wissa scores –

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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.

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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 in Tripoli.

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French coach Claude Le Roy made a losing start to a second stint with Congo Brazzaville as theylost 1-0 to Namibia.

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The 78-year-old is back in the dugout five years after leaving Togo, the sixth African country he has coached in an illustrious career spanning 41 years with national teams.

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Le Roy led Cameroon to victory in the 1988 AFCON in Morocco, two years after he had to settle for a runners-up medal after the Indomitable Lions lost to hosts Egypt in the final.

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His other top-three AFCON achievement came in 2008 as coach of hosts Ghana, who came third behind Egypt and Cameroon.

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In his first spell with Congo Brazzaville, they reached the 2015 AFCON quarter-finals only to squander a two-goal lead and lose 4-2 against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Le Roy, who took a break for personal reasons after coaching Togo, has featured at nine AFCON tournaments with Cameroon, Senegal, DR Congo, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville and Togo.

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Before the Group G matchday one game against Namibia, Le Roy claimed agents are demanding money before allowing players to join national squads.

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“Some agents — I will not name them — want up to 40,000 euros ($45,500) for certain players to join national squads,” he told reporters.

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Namibia, forced to play in Botswana capital Gaborone as they lack an international-standard stadium, won through a 47th-minute goal from Bethuel Muzeu.

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The South Africa-based striker soared between two defenders to nod a Riaan Hanamub cross across goalkeeper Perrauld Ndinga and into the net.

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AFP

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