Already qualified without playing since the draw between Chad and Sierra Leone (1-1), Ivory Coast lost against the Chipolopolos of Zambia (1-0), this Friday at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola , on behalf of the 5th and penultimate day of the CAN 2025 qualifiers. The only goal of the match was scored at the end of a first act disrupted by transmission problems.
While transmission problems prevented broadcasting during the entire first period, the Zambiashe opened the scoring just before half-time through Kennedy Musonda. Served on a cross from Joseph Sabobo, the Young Africans center forward only had to adjust Yahia Fofana (1-0, 43rd).
Coming back from the break, the Chipolopolos did not take their foot off the gas, quite the contrary. In the 48th minute, Y. Fofana worked to push back a powerful shot low to the ground from the left of the Zambian attack for a corner to his right. With their new jersey, the Elephants responded with a cross from the left after which Seko Fofana saw his recovery blocked in the area (52nd).
Zambia left the leather to Ivorians in order to proceed in counterattacks. Well they took it. Since they offered themselves perilous opportunities that were nevertheless wasted due to lack of precision in the last gesture. In the 55th minute, Sabobo, ideally shifted to the right, took his shot too high.
No “Faé time”
While Jean-Eudes Aholou responded in the following minute with a heavy shot slammed above his crossbar by Toaster Nsabata (56th), Avram Grant’s men missed the match point in the last quarter of an hour. At the conclusion of a three-on-one counter following a loss of the ball by Evan Ndicka, the Orange and Green showed waste and stumbled on Y. Fofana, author of a beautiful save (77th).
Just before the end of normal time, the returning Vakoun Bayo thought he had equalized following a long ball behind the Zambian defense, but his goal was invalidated for offside. This time, there will be no “Faé time”. The Orange have made a specialty of scoring goals at the buzzer since the advent of the Franco-Ivorian technician.
On arrival, Côte d’Ivoire lost for the second consecutive time, after having lost still far from its bases against Sierra Leone (1-0), on October 15, and lost first place to the benefit of his evening opponent, therefore qualified for the CAN 2025. A first under Emerse Faé, who would be well inspired to redeem himself on Wednesday, during the final day against Chad.
The compositions of Zambia-Ivory Coast
