Two time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ivory Coast adapted perfectly to life under new head coach Jean-Louis Gasset as they recorded a win in the Frenchman’s first game in charge of the Elephants barely two weeks since taking over the team.Playing their first 2023 AFCON qualification match, Ivory Coast, who have already qualified for the 34th edition of the continental tournament set to kick off in June next year courtesy of being hosts, condemned Zambia to a 3-1 defeat in their Group H match played at the Stade de Yamoussoukro on Friday night.Cote d’Ivoire name Frenchman Gasset as new head coachThe Elephants managed to break down the resolute Zambian defence after the break as all the four goals were scored in the second-half.Serge Aurier, Christian Kouakou Kouame and Ibrahim Sangare scored for the home side with Patson Daka getting the consolation in stoppage time.The result was a good start for new coach Gasset who took over the squad last week and started the game with his best players including Sebastien Haller, Aurier, Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare and Jeremie Boga in the line-up.📹 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: 🇨🇮 3-1 🇿🇲 Côte d’Ivoire impress with a victory over Zambia in their #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 opener! 🐘@FIFCI_Tweet | @FAZFootball pic.twitter.com/rCdyvOyyRK— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 3, 2022 In the same Group H, Comoros also set off their journey towards qualification for a second consecutive AFCON tournament on a high as they won their opening game at home, beating Lesotho 2-0 courtesy of second half goals from Youssef M’Changama and Youssouf Benjaloud.With the victories, both Ivory Coast and Comoros sailed to the top of the standings on three points each. (function (el) { window.addEventListener(“message”, (event) => { if (event.origin.startsWith(“https://www.sofascore”)) { if (el.id === event.data.id) { el.style.height = event.data.height + “px”; } } }); })(document.getElementById(“sofa-standings-embed-44623-41862”)); Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore In round one matches in Group B, only Burkina Faso managed a win as they defeated Cape Verde 2-0 in their match played at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.The victory, courtesy of goals from Hassane Bande and Dango Ouattara, took the Burkinabe, fourth place finishers as this year’s Cup of Nations, top of the group after match day one with a maximum three points.##NAJAVA_MECA_6436427##This is because Togo and Eswatini played to a thrilling 2-2 draw with the away side showing their never dying spirit in the encounter staged in Lome.The home side twice thought they were on the winning end, but a hard fighting eSwatini held on for a point on the opening day of Group B action with Siboniso Ngwenya’s superb left footed thunderbolt in the 95th minute grabbing a point for the visitors. (function (el) { window.addEventListener(“message”, (event) => { if (event.origin.startsWith(“https://www.sofascore”)) { if (el.id === event.data.id) { el.style.height = event.data.height + “px”; } } }); })(document.getElementById(“sofa-standings-embed-38007-41862”)); Standings provided by SofaScore LiveScore On Saturday, eight matches will be on the cards with East African rivals Uganda and Tanzania in action. Reigning AFCON champions Senegal will also get their qualification campaign underway.Saturday FixturesNamibia vs BurundiDR Congo vs Gabon##NAJAVA_MECA_6438542##Gambia vs South SudanNiger vs TanzaniaAlgeria vs UgandaMali vs CongoMauritania vs SudanSenegal vs Benin
