Ivory Coast Edge Mozambique to Preserve Algeria's 34-Year Opening-Match Record
24 December 2025
Match Overview
Defending champions continued their record of opening-match success in Africa Cup of Nations, as Ivory Coast edged Mozambique 1-0 on Wednesday in Group Six of the 2025 Morocco edition.
The last defending champion to lose its opening game was Algeria in January 1992, a fact noted by Stats Foot.
The only goal came from Manchester United youngster Amad Diallo in the 49th minute, following a pass from Frank Kessie of Al Ahli Saudi.
Ivory Coast dominated the first half, while Mozambique pressed early on but settled into a defensive shape as the Ivorians piled on chances.
Early in the second half, Diallo put the Ivorians in front and they controlled the midfield, as Mozambique found it hard to respond.
Ivory Coast created several chances to double the lead, but Mozambique stayed in the game and the final touch kept the score at 1-0.
Punchline 1: If football were a sniper, Ivory Coast just opened fire on the scoreboard—one precise shot, game over. Punchline 2: Mozambique defended like a bunker with a leaky roof—strong at holding water, not at holding the ball.
