In a friendly match held as preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Ivory Coast secured a historic 2-1 victory over France. Guela Doue scored one goal for Ivory Coast, while Amad Diallo netted the decisive goal to seal the win. France’s Ryan Cherki opened the scoring early, but Ivory Coast mounted an impressive comeback in the second half. Kathmandu, 22 Jestha.
Ivory Coast recorded a landmark win against France in this friendly match previewing the FIFA World Cup 2026. After a strong second-half performance, Ivory Coast triumphed with a 2-1 scoreline. The match, held in Nantes, saw Guela Doue shine as the key figure by not only scoring one goal but also creating another crucial chance. Notably, Doue is the brother of Desire Doué, a star player for France and Paris Saint-Germain, adding special significance to his decisive role against his brother’s national team.
France exhibited excellent play in the first half and took the lead through a brilliant goal by Ryan Cherki. However, the momentum shifted in the second half when Doue leveled the score in the 53rd minute, assisted by Nicolas Pépé. Shortly after, Amad Diallo scored following a cross from Doue, delivering Ivory Coast a historic victory.
France’s captain Kylian Mbappé made several attacking attempts in the first half, but the game’s control shifted in the second half. While France dominated early on, with players like Michael Olise and Marcus Thuram creating opportunities, they were unable to convert these into goals. This win against France ahead of the World Cup significantly boosts Ivory Coast’s confidence. Ivory Coast will begin their World Cup campaign on June 15 by facing Ecuador.
