Ivory Coast suffer humiliating home defeat

EBIMPE, Ivory Coast 

Equatorial Guinea inflicted Ivory Coast’s heaviest defeat on home soil at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday night, thrashing the Elephants 4-0 at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe.

The victory saw Nzalang Nacional top Group A, while the Elephants currently sit in third position on the log.

The hosts got the game off to a bright start and held most of the ball during the first 10 minutes.

As the dust settled at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, Ivory Coast began playing more constructively which pushed Equatorial Guinea on the edge of their own box.

Equatorial Guinea attacked in sporadic moments and looked to hit the home team on the break at every chance.

Nevertheless, the Ivorian’s energy appeared to have been a problem for their counterparts.

Nicolas Pepe was afforded the chance of the first half in the 29th minute after finding himself one-on-one with Jesus Owono in goal.

In an attempt to round the goalkeeper, Owono did well to read the situation before intercepting the ball.

However, it was Equatorial Guinea who broke the deadlock in the 41st minute as Emilio Nsue got his name on the scoresheet.

Carlos Akapo caught the Ivorian defence napping with a darting run into the area and subsequently picked out Nsue who guided the ball home with a calm finish.

The Elephants thought they had levelled matters moments before halftime after Ibrahim Sangaré found the back of the net.

However, the VAR officials spotted the midfielder in an offside position.

Ivory Coast oversaw a positive start to the second half and created a couple of goalscoring chances in the process.

Owono kept his side in the game with a fine save soon before the hour mark after Christian Kouamé found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Second-half substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso found the back of the net in the 66th minute, which sent the Ivorian fans in a state of elation.

However, their celebrations were cut short after the VAR officials spotted the attacker in an offside position.

In a moment that stunned supporters at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, Pablo Ganet doubled his nation’s advantage with a stunning free-kick effort in the 73rd minute.

Then, Equatorial Guinea took advantage of a dejected Ivory Coast outfit two minutes later as Nsue capped off a swift counter-attacking move en-route to goal.

After yet another damaging transitional move toward the end of the game, Jannick Buyla added Equatorial Guinea’s fourth in the 88th minute.

Equatorial Guinea: Owono, Akapo, Fernandez, Coco, Ndong, Salvador (Nlavo 78’), Ganet (Balboa 85’), Bikoro, Miranda (Buyla 56’), Pepin (Eneme 85’), Nsue (Siafa 78’)

Ivory Coast: Fofana, Konan (Krasso 64’), Ndicka, Boly (Adingra 84’), Singo, Fofana, Kessie, Sangare, Kouame (Konate 65’), Pepe (Boga 65’), Diakite