Ivory Coast v Mozambique live: Afcon 2025 result as reigning champions off to winning start

Just what Ivory Coast needed to begin their Afcon title defence. They’ll want to wast less chances in future matches but three points is three points. A job well done

AND THAT’S IT! Not always pretty but Ivory Coast get off to a winning start in their Afcon title defence.

Man Untied man Amad Diallo’s neat finish early in the second half was enough. The Elephants were by far the better team and should’ve score more but squandered some glorious chances, most notably through Kessie and Bayo.

Mozambique were diligent but didn’t have quite enough quality to break their opponents down, so it’s Ivory Coast who take a big step towards the last 16.

That was the chance for Mozambique! Star man Catamo suddenly has space open up in front of him, he drives forward, weaves past one man, then another, into the box trying to find space and gets a shot away through bodies but Fofana is down well to save.

That would’ve been some goal

Into four minutes of injury-time. Can Mozambique conjure something spectacular? Ivory Coast have 11 men behind the ball.

ABSOLUTE CARNAGE! Firstly, Mozambique appeal for a penalty as Mexer gets tangles with Sangare in the box. Nothing doing.

Ivory Coast break and Kessie is clean through but caught in two minds whether to shoot or try to pass and sort of half lays it back to Bayo as Ernani comes rushing out.

Ernani dives on the edge of the box to save well from Bayo’s first shot, it comes back to the Ivorian striker and he lashes the ball towards the bottom corner but Guima does brilliantly to act as an emergency goalkeeper, lunge across with his foot and deflect the ball wide. A great foot save!

Mozambique then survive the corner. Wow!

The conditions in this second half have been diabolical with the rain teeming down. The players have coped pretty well.

Five minutes plus injury time to go

Another Ivory Coast sub as they try to see this out. Goalscorer Diallo is clapped off and Oumar Diakite, the Cercle Brugge man, comes on.

Better from Mozambique. They pour forward, Catamo drives into the box and his shot is blocked for a corner, which Ivory Coast defend well.

Catamo, who plays for Sporting, is Mozambique’s star man and definitely looks like their most dangerous outlet.

Diomande receives Ivory Coast’s first yellow card as he clatters through the back of Calila

How is this still 1-0?! The latest Ivory Coast miss sees Kessie whip in a stunning cross and an unmarked Bayo head the ball down but wide of the right post. Has to score – the No 9, just on as a sub, will be annoyed with that.

Mozambique aren’t offering anything going forward really but as long as it stay 1-0, they’ve got a chance.

Subs aplenty here. For Ivory Coast, Seko Fofana and Vakoun Bayo are replacing Seri and Zaha.

Meanwhile, Mozambique send on Gildo Vilanculos and Faisal Bangal for Witi and Ratifo. They also bring on Domingues for Kambala and Domingues becomes the second-oldest player in Afcon history at the age of 42.

He made his Mozambique debut in 2004 before some players on the pitch, such as Yan Diomande, were even born...