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Côte d’Ivoire won on Wednesday against Equatorial Guinea (1-0). A victory without forcing that gives him the head of Group E of the African Cup of Nations, ahead of Algeria.
The important thing are the three points. Minimum service for Côte d’Ivoire which won without shining, Wednesday January 12, against a combative but powerless Equatorial Guinea (1-0). A success which allows the Ivorians to take the head of group E of la CAN-2022 and put pressure on Algeria after its underperformance against Sierra Leone.
The Elephants, stronger on paper and perfectly organized by their French coach Patrice Beaumelle, owed their salvation to a nice goal from Max-Alain Gradel (5th), the former Toulouse and Saint-Étienne player, on a shot powerful right, at the very start of the match, after a lost ball, then recovered, then poorly relaunched by the Guinean defense.
Winners of the CAN in 2015, the Ivorians were deprived of their number 1 goalkeeper, Sylvain Gbohouo, suspended for doping, but could count on a top-of-the-range attacking trio: on the right, Gradel, who plays today in Turkey at Sivasspor, on the left, the ex-Lyonnais today at Burnley Maxwel Cornet, and the current best Champions League scorer (10 goals in 6 matches), Sébastien Haller (Ajax Amsterdam).
Equatorial Guinea fired more
But the great Haller (1m90), deprived of balls, never found the opening and the Ivorians dominated, but ultimately shot less often than the Nzalang Nacional. The Equatorial Guineans even finished the first period very well and could have obtained a penalty to equalize.
There was a penalty for Equatorial Guinea. Mind-blowing … #EQGCIV
– Nabil Djellit (@Nabil_djellit) January 12, 2022
The Ivorian armada renewed its workforce in the last half hour and the replacements, around Nicolas Pépé and Wilfried Zaha, have tried everything. Grandpa, twice in one minute (80th minute), even had the break point at the end of his foot.
The first time, all alone at the penalty spot after a long raid by Ghislain Konan, the Arsenal striker sent the ball into the clouds of Douala. The second time, his low shot on target forced Guinean goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga to lie down to ward off danger. And Zaha, in stoppage time, also had the ball 2-0 at the end of the left foot, but his shot was too crossed.
This victory is not convincing but it is crucial for the Ivory Coast in this group E of which it takes the head. She will meet in her third match Algeria, which drew Tuesday with Sierra Leone. And the Algerians would be well advised to beware of Equatorial Guineans in the next match.
Relive the match with our liveblog:
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