Ivory Coast vs Mozambique: Reigning champions begin title defence with a win as Amad sends Amorim clear message

Manchester United star Amad Diallo was the hero for the Ivory Coast as the defending champions started their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique.

Diallo, playing as a winger as opposed to a wing-back as he often does for Manchester United, was decisive for the Elephants, who have now gone 14 tournaments without defeat in the opening game.

Ivory Coast wasted a host of clear first-half opportunities against Mozambique, a side ranked 102nd in the world and sitting 60 places below them in the FIFA rankings. Despite dominating large spells, the Elephants failed to turn their superiority into goals before the break.

Relief finally arrived four minutes into the second half when Amad broke the deadlock for Emerse Fae’s team. The winger took advantage of poor defending, latching onto Franck Kessie’s knockdown and calmly drilling a low shot through the legs of defender Reinildo to score.

Mozambique goalkeeper Ernan was instrumental in keeping his side level for much of the contest, producing several impressive saves.

He acrobatically tipped Yan Diomande’s mis-hit effort over the bar from Guela Doue’s cross and later blocked Kessie’s close-range header aimed straight at him. Ghislain Konan also missed a golden chance after Amad’s clever footwork created space inside the box, but the left-back dragged his effort wide.

Ivory Coast nearly doubled their lead late on as Kessie broke free, only to hesitate, allowing Vakoun Bayo’s follow-up to be brilliantly denied by Ernan and Guima’s goal-line clearance.

Both teams return to action on Sunday, with Mozambique facing Gabon in Agadir, while Ivory Coast take on Cameroon in Marrakech.