Summary of the article: Ivory Coast loses to Equatorial Guinea
In a match that looked promising for Ivory Coast, the Elephants ultimately suffered a crushing defeat against Equatorial Guinea. With a score of 0-4 in favor of the Nzalang, the disappointment was visible on the faces of the Ivorian players.
From the kick-off, Côte d’Ivoire showed much better determination than in their previous match against Nigeria. The attackers were more present and the passes more precise. However, despite a clear domination, it was Equatorial Guinea who opened the scoring thanks to Emilio Nsue on his only foray into the Ivorian defense.
This goal was a real thunderclap for the Ivorians, who thought they largely dominated the game. Despite their efforts and several clear chances, notably with a Kouame shot diverted by the Equatorial Guinean goalkeeper, they never managed to find the fault.
The nightmare intensified for Ivory Coast when Pablo Ganet scored a superb free kick into the top corner. A few minutes later, Emilio Nsue added to the lead by scoring his fifth goal of the competition. The Ivorian defense, completely disorganized, even conceded a fourth goal from Jannick Buyla Sam.
The Nzalang Nacional thus took first place in Group A, while the Ivorians found themselves in a delicate situation. With three points, their qualification will depend on the results of the other groups and a possible best third place.
This unexpected defeat raises many questions about the resources and the ability of the Elephants to recover from such a blow. Jean-Louis Gasset will certainly have to review his strategy for the next matches in order to revive the team and regain the confidence necessary to continue in the competition.
In conclusion, this defeat of Ivory Coast against Equatorial Guinea is a real blow for the players and the technical staff. She questions their ability to qualify for the rest of the competition. We will now have to count on other results to hope to see the Elephants continue their adventure in this CAN 2022.