In a duel between two teams that won the maximum number of points in Group F, Ivory Coast beat Gabon 1-0 and now stands alone in first place. Seko Fofana scored the decisive goal in the 36th minute. Ivory Coast manager Emerse Faé opted to focus on counter-attacks after the goal, and the impression was that the home team’s experience prevailed, but it is far from the fact that Gabon didn’t have a chance to get at least one point from this match.Emerse Faé has been impeccable since becoming the Ivory Coast coach. 🇨🇮😅Senegal 🇸🇳✅Mali 🇲🇱✅DR Congo 🇨🇩✅Nigeria 🇳🇬🏆✅Benin 🇧🇯➖Uruguay 🇺🇾✅Gabon 🇬🇦✅#WCQ #FIFAWCQ pic.twitter.com/axjeFqk4r6— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) June 7, 2024 The initial part of the first half was very interesting and full of chances. Gabon started the game better and had a chance already in the second minute when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shot hit the post. The home team didn’t wait much to answer, creating two chances in two minutes. Firstly, Oumar Diakite’s shot went slightly wide of the far post of Gabon’s goal, and then Franck Kessie’s shot was saved by Loyce Mbaba. The 13th minute brought another chance for the away team, but Yahia Fofana deftly saved Jim Allevinah’s strike. Just a minute later, the Panthers threatened again. Odilon Kossounou was unwary, Denis Bouanga stole him the ball, and shot from the left side of the box, but Fofana was up to the task once more. Bouanga was one of the most active players of the away team in the first half and had another good shot in the 28th minute, but the home team goalkeeper was again careful enough.The Elephants managed to break the deadlock in the 36th minute. The action lasted a long time, the ball circled around the Panthers’ box until Seko Fofana got a good pass from Kessie and scored a magnificent goal from just outside the box, sending the ball in the upper corner of Mbaba’s goal. After the opening goal, Ivory Coast set a lower pace and peacefully awaited the halftime.🚨 Goal: Seko Fofana | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Gabon 🇬🇦 pic.twitter.com/ieILirNnNa— Olt Sports (@oltsport_) June 7, 2024 Sebastian Haller had the first chance for the Elephants five minutes into the second half. Borussia Dortmund’s forward’s strike from the box went just wide of the post. The second half was, in general, played in a much slower rhythm, partly because Ivory Coast had the convenient result and partly because Gabon had no clear idea how to threaten the Elephants’ goal, so people on Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium had to wait until 77th minute for another chance. Brighton’s Simon Adingra, who entered the game in the 65th minute, shot from the left side of the box, Kessie awaited Mbala’s deflection with a header, but the crossbar prevented the 27-year-old midfielder from scoring. Gabon had the first and only goal opportunity in the second half in the 87th minute after Medwin Biteghe’s shot went over the bar.The Elephants proved that they are rightly considered favourites in this group, whereas a tough fight for second place awaits Gabon. In the other two matches in Group F, Kenya and Burundi drew 1-1, while the Gambia and Seychelles will play their match on Saturday. In the fourth round, which will be played on Tuesday, Ivory Coast will play against Kenya, and Gabon will host the Gambia.
##NAJAVA_MECA_8150531##2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERSFridayKenya – Burundi 1-1 (0-0)/Abuya 72 – Sudi 85/Mozambique – Somalia 2-1 (2-0)/Amade 14, Ratifo 29 – Shirwa 66/Zimbabwe – Lesotho 0-2 (0-2)/Rasethuntsa 21, Thaba 31/Angola – Eswatini 1-0 (1-0)/Mabululu 2/Madagascar – Comoros 2-1 (1-0)/Raveloson 1, 66 – El Fardou Ben 90+4/Uganda – Botswana 1-0 (0-0)/Shaban 74/Ivory Coast – Gabon 1-0 (1-0)/Fofana 36/Morocco – Zambia 2-1 (1-0)/Ziyech 6 pen, Ben Seghir 67 / Chilufya 80/Nigeria – South Africa 1-1 (0-1)/Dele-Bashiru 46 – Zwane 29/