The Amad Diallo strike was the decisive one when the reigning champions, the Ivory Coast, started their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a close yet significant win over Mozambique in Marrakesh city.
The outcome provided the holders with a premature takeover of Group F and alleviated immediate strain following a powerful but inefficient assault demonstration.
Ivory Coast dominated throughout the initial exchanges and constantly drove Mozambique back, allowing a number of distinct opportunities in both halves. But wasteful completing prolonged the contest longer than it was supposed to, and did not allow the champions to make an emphatic opening statement.
The spark came soon after the time when Diallo completed his composure in the box to take his third senior international goal in his first major international appearance.
That goal won a high-stakes battle, the Amad Diallo goal eventually turning the match between the two sides into a night that was characterized by missed chances.
Mozambique was unable to generate maintained pressure but was still threatening on the counter and almost punishing the Ivory Coast late on. Geny Catamo attempted a last-gasp effort but was thwarted by goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, and it serves to indicate the narrow margins.
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae had to change his attack strategies because of the unavailable injured forward, Sebastien Haller. Wilfried Zaha was also back in the starting line after being gone almost two years, and Franck Kessie and Vakoun Bayo both turned down the opportunity to widen the margin.
In spite of such frustrations, the victory leaves the Ivory Coast at the summit of the cluster over the rest of the matches. Next comes the high-profile encounter with Cameroon, and Mozambique will want a retaliatory blow against Gabon, the Amad Diallo goal already a seminal moment.
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