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

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 in Tripoli.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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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