The host nation, Cote D’ivoire, beat Guinea Bissau 2-0 in the opening match of the 2023 African Cup of Nations late Saturday night.
Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso scored in both half of the game to ensure they go away with all three points.
The 28-year-old midfielder, Seko Fofana, scores the first goal of the tournament in fourth minutes of the match to put Cote D’ivoire ahead against Guinea Bissau.
Jean-Philippe Krasso scored in the second half of the game in 58th minutes.
Fofana who plays with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia put the host country ahead against Guinea-Bissau with his curling effort from the edge of the box.
The orange colour supporters occupied the 60,000-seater stadium to cheer the Elephants of Ivory Coast with drums and songs.
Evan Ndicka of Cote D’ivoire received the first yellow card of the tournament in the 30th minute from the Egyptian referee Amin Omar.
The referee also called Moro Cassama to order as he was booked a minute to end the first half due to a foul on Krasso.
Both teams had 10 shots each with 4 on target for the host nation and three for the visitors as the ball possession was 62% for Cote D’ivoire and Guinea Bissau 38%.
Ivory Coast tops the Group A table in Match Day 1 with three points.
Substitutes for the host nation include Singo, Diomande, Sangaree, Krasso and Bamba while Guinea Bissau substituted Cassama, Rodrigues, Balde and Mane.
Both teams had 10 shots each with 4 on target for the host nation and three for the visitors.
Focus will now be in Nigeria who will play Equatorial Guinea in another group A match on 14 January, by 3 pm at Alassane Ouattara D’Anyama Olympic Stadium.
