Ivory Coast, Newly Crowned African Champions, Salvage Draw Against Benin in Friendly Encounter

In a friendly encounter held in Amiens, France, on Saturday, Ivory Coast, the recently crowned African champions, found themselves held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Benin side. Despite the disappointment of failing to secure a victory, Ivory Coast’s Oumar Diakite emerged as the hero, netting a crucial second-half equalizer to salvage a draw for his team.

The match marked the debut of coach Emerse Fae since guiding his side to victory in the Cup of Nations tournament held on home soil last month. However, Ivory Coast’s celebratory mood was dampened as they struggled to assert dominance over their opponents, forcing them to mount comebacks on two occasions to avoid defeat.

The action-packed encounter saw Benin’s midfielder, Junior Olaitan, drawing first blood with an early goal, putting Ivory Coast on the back foot. However, the Ivorian side quickly responded, with winger Max Gradel finding the back of the net just before the half-hour mark to restore parity.

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Despite Ivory Coast’s efforts to seize control of the game, Benin regained the lead with Olaitan’s second goal, threatening to clinch victory. However, Ivory Coast refused to concede defeat, displaying resilience and determination as Diakite once again stepped up to the plate, scoring the equalizing goal in the 69th minute.

The draw serves as a wake-up call for Ivory Coast as they continue their preparations for future challenges, including an upcoming friendly against Uruguay scheduled to take place in Lens on Tuesday. This fixture presents another opportunity for Ivory Coast to fine-tune their strategies and tactics as they gear up for the resumption of the 2026 African World Cup qualifiers slated for June.

Despite the setback, Ivory Coast remains optimistic about their prospects, drawing inspiration from their recent triumph in the African Cup of Nations. As they navigate through the intricacies of international football, Ivory Coast aims to harness their winning momentum and solidify their status as a formidable force on the African continent.