Ivory Coast started their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea thanks to Max Gradel’s fifth-minute thunderbolt.
In only their second AFCON meeting, experienced winger Gradel scored a tremendous first-time strike into the top-right corner to put the Elephants ahead in Douala on Wednesday.
Despite facing a star-studded Ivory Coast side, Equatorial Guinea might count themselves unlucky not to have picked up a point against the two-time African Cup of Nations champions.
Indeed, Gradel’s effort was the only attempt on target from Ivory Coast until substitute Nicolas Pepe forced a save from Manuel Sapunga in the 81st minute.
Emilio Nsue squandered Equatorial Guinea’s best opportunity just after the hour-mark, drilling straight at Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare when through one-on-one.
But the Elephants were not made to pay for their relatively blunt attacking, given the quality at their disposal, as they took the lead in Group E and ensured their run of avoiding defeat in AFCON openers continued, having last gone down in such a game in 1996.
