Amad Diallo emerged as the hero for Côte d’Ivoire, netting a goal in the 90th minute to secure a 1-0 victory against Ecuador in their Group E opener.
Diallo’s precise strike following a cross from Wilfried Singo marked the Ivorians’ first World Cup win over a South American team and ended Ecuador’s impressive 19-match unbeaten streak.
This match also highlighted the outstanding performance of 19-year-old Yan Diomande, as Côte d’Ivoire equaled Germany’s points after their 7-1 triumph over Curacao earlier in the day.
The youthful Ivorian squad, the youngest at this World Cup, appeared to be struggling for creativity until Singo made a decisive run up the right flank. His cross found Diallo, who skillfully placed the ball into the bottom left corner, giving the West African nation an exhilarating start in their first World Cup finals appearance since 2014.
Ecuador’s best opportunities in the first half stemmed from Côte d’Ivoire’s lackadaisical defense. John Yeboah and Alan Minda both hit the crossbar in the 23rd and 30th minutes, respectively.
Despite this, Côte d’Ivoire appeared to have the upper hand in terms of possession, with Diomande proving to be a constant threat on Ecuador’s left side. In the 35th minute, he received the ball in midfield, outpaced Piero Hincapié, and delivered a cross towards Nicolas Pépé, who was making a late run into the penalty area. Pépé attempted to adjust for his preferred left foot but had his shot blocked.
Near the end of the first half, Singo nearly executed a stunning bicycle kick from a cross by Guéla Doué.
After the break, Côte d’Ivoire maintained their momentum, but a powerful shot from Ecuador’s Gonzalo Plata in the 68th minute forced goalkeeper Yahia Fofana to make a routine save.
Before this, Diomande continued to shine. In the 52nd minute, he delivered a cross to Elye Wahi, whose first-time shot skimmed the crossbar. Shortly after switching to the left wing due to two substitutions by Côte d’Ivoire in the 56th minute, Diomande weaved through defenders Yeboah, Alan Franco, and Moises Caicedo but fired over the goal.
In a match held close to a sizable population of over 600,000 Ecuadorian Americans in New York and New Jersey, La Tricolor fans created a vibrant atmosphere but ultimately left the stadium disheartened.
