Ivory Coast v Guinea Bissau: Africa Cup of Nations – live

Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Live feed Key events 9m ago GOAL! Ivory Coast 1 0 Guinea Bissau (Fofana 4) 1h ago Team news 1h ago Preamble Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature now 15.20 EST 13 min Guinea Bissau have already lost the ball eight times in their own half, which tells you how well Ivory Coast have pressed.

3m ago 15.17 EST 11 min Bamba plays in the underlapping Krasso, whose cross is too close to Djoco. Ivory Coast look very dangerous in attack. Updated at 15.17 EST 4m ago 15.16 EST 9 min: Chance for Ivory Coast An inswinging corner from the left is headed over at the near post by Singo. That wasn’t a bad opportunity.

5m ago 15.15 EST 8 min Guinea Bissau’s first decent attack. Cande’s cross from the left is missed by Balde, trying an overhead kick when he might have time to pull the ball down, and eventually it bounces through to the keeper. 6m ago 15.14 EST 7 min The goal came from a poor ball out of defence, and Ivory Coast have smothering Guinea Bissau since the kick off.

A free kick on the halfway line gives them a few seconds’ respite. 8m ago 15.12 EST It was a terrific goal from Seko Fofana. He received a square pass on the edge of the D, shifted the ball neatly away from Djalo and Rodrigues and slammed a thrilling shot into the far corner. Updated at 15.13 EST 9m ago 15.11 EST GOAL! Ivory Coast 1 0 Guinea Bissau (Fofana 4) The perfect start for Ivory Coast! 13m ago 15.07 EST 1 min Peep peep! Guinea Bissau, kicking from right to left as we watch, get the tournament under way.

18m ago 15.01 EST The players walk out for the opening game of the tournament. They’re either behind schedule or my TV feed has a frankly problematic delay. Some opening ceremony that! #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/YH1lRUQJeI — Total Energies AFCON (@TotalAFCON2023) January 13, 2024 Updated at 15.03 EST 22m ago 14.57 EST The stadium is a sea of mild orange.

Ivory Coast have won this tournament twice, in 1992 and 2015, each time after a Homeric penalty competition in the final. Everyone in an orange shirt would settle for the same this time – but for now, while the tournament is a blank canvas, they can fantasise about an even great glory. 1h ago 14.24 EST Osasu Obayiuwana’s tournament preview ‘It is a global event’: all eyes on hosts Ivory Coast as Afcon looks to move on Read more 1h ago 14.17 EST You know, this is – excuse me – a damn tough quiz Goals, glory and Akwaba: how much do you know about Afcon? – quiz Read more (7/15, since you asked) 1h ago 14.11 EST Team news The hosts are without the injured Simon Adingra of Brighton and Sebastien Haller of Borussia Dortmund.

Guinea Bissau have stuck with the defence that started last weekend’s 6 2 defeat to Mali. Ivory Coast (possible 4 3 3) Y Fofana; Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, S Fofana; Bamba, Krasso, Boga. Substitutes: Seri, Kossonou, Konate, Boly, Diakite, Gradel, Aurier, Pepe, Kouame, B Sangare, Doumbia, Ismael.

Guinea Bissau (possible 4 3 3) Djoco; Encada, Sangante, Djalo, Cande; Cassama, Bikel, Semedo; Teixeira, Balde, C Mane. Substitutes: J Mendes, Dju, H Mendes, N Gomes, Dalcio, Gano, Tchami, C Gomes, S Mane, Nanu, Ze Turbo, Miguel le. Here's how both teams will start the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 opening game! #CIVGNB pic.twitter.com/STJri1egfN — CAF (@CAF_Online) January 13, 2024 Updated at 15.17 EST 1h ago 14.00 EST Preamble Hello and welcome to live coverage of the opening game of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023: the hosts Ivory Coast v Guinea Bissau.

It’s the first of 52 games over the next four weeks, culminating in the final on Sunday 11 February. And we’re due a good tournament. In recent times the African Cup of Nations has looked better on paper than on the pitch, with a head scratchingly low goals per game average. But it is at least a model of competitiveness and unpredictability.

Since Egypt won three in a row between 2006 10, there have been six tournaments and six different winners – none of whom, to Mo Salah’s abundant chagrin, have been Egypt. Egypt are among a list of maybe 10 potential winners this time. Morocco, World Cup semi finalists 13 months ago, are favourites.

Ivory Coast, hosts for the first time since 1984, are also on fancied, as you’d expect of a team with enough attacking talent to leave Wilfried Zaha out of the entire squad. It will be a surprise if they don’t start with a comfortable win tonight. Guinea Bissau have never won a game at the Africa Cup of Nations and are among the outsiders.

But a forgiving format (six groups of four, top two and the four best third placed teams go through) gives all 24 teams hope of reaching the knockout stages. Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are the other teams in Group A; they meet tomorrow afternoon. Kick off 8pm in Abidjan, 8pm GMT. The hosts are here with one dream: “bring it home” #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 | #CIVGNB pic.twitter.com/KMPix3ojhN — CAF (@CAF_Online) January 13, 2024 Updated at 14.02 EST Explore more on these topics Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Ivory Coast football team Guinea Bissau football team Reuse this content.