Ivory Coast made a winning start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on Thursday, beating Ghana 2-0 in a closely contested Group C opener at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake.The hosts gradually took control as the game progressed, with both sides struggling to turn possession into clear-cut chances during the opening stages. The Elephants eventually found the breakthrough just before half-time through debutant Malick Yalcouye. The midfielder found space on the edge of the Ghana penalty area before unleashing a powerful strike beyond Lawrence Ati-Zigi to put the Elephants ahead at the break.🚨🌍 | GOAL: WHAT A GOLAZO BY MALICK YALCOUYE! SENSATIONAL!🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 1-0 Ghana 🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/YTX1aE4300— TheGoalsZone (@TheGoalsZone) September 24, 2026 The Black Stars needed a response after the restart, but Ivory Coast soon extended their advantage instead thanks to a highly controversial penalty. Captain Franck Kessie stepped up from the penalty spot and calmly converted to make it 2-0, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb.Carlos Queiroz's side pushed forward in search of a way back into the contest, but struggled to sustain enough pressure in the final third.This is the penalty awarded to Ivory Coast against Ghana. Clear simulation by Yalcouyé who should be getting his second yellow after his dive in the box in the first half which was also uncarded.Absolute shameful officiating 🤮 #CAF #Afcon Mustapha Ghorbal 2-0 Blackstars…— Someone’s Son 💎🇬🇭 (@bigfredtweets) September 24, 2026 Their best opportunity came in the 76th minute when Caleb Yirenkyi got an effort away from inside the box, only for Yahia Fofana to produce a crucial save and protect the hosts' two-goal lead.The Elephants saw out the remainder of the contest without allowing Ghana a route back into the game, giving returning coach Herve Renard three points in his first qualifying match back in charge.2027 AFCON QUALIFIERSRound 1ThursdayNamibia – Congo 1-0 (0-0)/Muzeu 47/DR Congo – Equatiorial Guinea 2-0 (1-0)/Mbemba 4, Wissa 72/Libya – Botswana 2-2 (0-2)/Al Hbeishi 87, Al Mariami 90+6 pen – Orebonye 30,42/Mauritania – CAR 3-1 (1-0)/Koita 32 pen, Camara 69, Diallo 89 – Koyalipou 48/Cameroon – Comoros 2-1 (1-0)/Nyengue 39, Mbeumo 48, Namaso 81 – Omari 51/Ivory Coast – Ghana 2-0 (1-0)/Yalcouye 44, Kessie 58 pen/Sierra Leone – Zimbabwe 2-3 (2-0)/Conteh 7, Tarawallie 27 – Munetsi 72,88, Chireva 76/Tunisia – Uganda 1-1 (1-0)/Arous 12 – Mato 68/Friday16.00: (2.40) Tanzania (2.70) Guinea-Bissau (3.40)18.00: (1.55) Niger (3.50) Lesotho (6.75)19.00: (1.15) Gambia (7.00) Somalia (15.0)19.00: (1.67) Malawi (3.45) South Sudan (5.20)19.00: (1.20) Nigeria (5.80) Madagascar (13.0)19.00: (1.80) Rwanda (3.35) Liberia (4.40)19.00: (1.77) Sudan (3.35) Ethiopia (4.60)19.00: (1.58) Togo (3.45) Burundi (6.25)22.00: (1.23) Algeria (5.50) Zambia (12.0)22.00: (1.50) Burkina Faso (3.60) Benin (7.25)22.00: (1.38) Egypt (4.20) Angola (8.50)22.00: (2.00) Mali (3.05) Cabo Verde (3.90)22.00: (1.18) Morocco (6.50) Gabon (13.0)22.00: (1.25) Senegal (5.20) Mozambique (11.0)Saturday16.00: (1.40) Kenya (4.20) Eritrea (7.75)19.00: (1.85) S.Africa (3.30) Guinea (4.20)***odds are subject to change***
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