A goal in each half gave three-time African champions Ivory Coast a 2-0 win over Ghana in the opening group game of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afron) qualifiers.
The match at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake proved to be a revisit of the infamous debacle of the Black Stars in 1984 when they bowed out of the Afcon at the group stage as defending champions.
The Stars began well, matching the Elephants boot-for-boot in a pacey start to the Group C qualifiers.
It got a little heated at some point, leading to Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal flashing the yellow card to Coventry City’s Brandon Thomas-Asante.
With a minute to end the first half, Thomas-Asante’s Premier League mate Malick Junior Yalcouye, who was making his debut for the national team, caught the Ghanaian defence off-guard to send in a 20-yard strike to beat Lawrence Ati-Zigi at the near post and send the home fans into raptures.
Twelve minutes after the break, Yalcouye benefitted from a soft penalty after he was touched by another Premier League star Abdul-Fatawu Issahaku.
Referee Ghorbal may have made a mistake with the call but Ivorian captain Franck Kessie made no mistake as he doubled the lead for the Elephants.
Ghana came close to halving the score with Coventry City midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi hitting a free ball at goalkeeper Yahia Fofana.
Substitute Benjamin Tetteh also had his free header saved by the Turkey-based goalie.
It ended 2-0 as the Black Stars return home to prepare for their next qualifier against The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, September 29.
