Story by Anashe Murombedzi
CÔTE d’Ivoire became the first African nation to record a victory at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Ecuador 1-0 in a tightly contested encounter early Monday morning.
Amad Diallo proved the hero for the Ivorians, striking in the 90th minute to secure a crucial win and strengthen his side’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
Côte d’Ivoire withstood sustained pressure from Ecuador, particularly in the second half, with the South Americans unable to convert several opportunities as the African champions held firm.
The victory provides a significant boost to the Ivorians’ campaign and marks Africa’s first win of the tournament.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands and Japan shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
The Dutch twice took the lead through Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville, but Japan responded on both occasions to earn a valuable point.
Sweden produced one of the standout performances of the tournament so far, cruising to a commanding 5-1 victory over Tunisia.
The Swedes dominated proceedings from start to finish and now occupy a strong position in the race for a place in the knockout stages.
Attention now shifts to Monday evening’s fixtures, with Spain set to take on Cape Verde, while Belgium face Egypt in another key group-stage clash.
