The host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, secured a resounding victory on Saturday in Abidjan by defeating the Djurtus of Guinea-Bissau with a convincing scoreline of 2-0 in the inaugural match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The thrilling encounter unfolded at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, which boasts a capacity of 60,000 spectators.

With this triumph, Cote d’Ivoire has momentarily ascended to the summit of Group A, a challenging group that also includes Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, set to face off on Sunday.

In the captivating curtain-raiser, Côte d’Ivoire took the lead in the fourth minute with a sensational goal from Seko Fofana, who plies his trade in Saudi Arabia. Jean-Philippe Krasso then added to the scoreline with his team’s second goal in the 58th minute of the game.

The Ivorian squad displayed a formidable performance right from the initial whistle, asserting dominance in possession against their perceived less formidable opponent.

Following this impressive start to the tournament, the host nation is now poised to face Nigeria on January 18 in what promises to be another exciting match.