U-17 AFCON: Alynho Haïdara and Ivory Coast crush the Central African Republic

Photo Credit: Ivorian Football Federation

EDITOR NOTE: This article is translated from the original written in French by Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou for Pan-Africa Football.

Ivory Coast kicked off its U-17 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in style, thrashing the Central African Republic with a resounding 6-1 score. A one-sided match in which Alynho Haïdara scored four goals.

The young Elephants wasted no time asserting their dominance. In the 3rd minute, Alynho Haïdara opened the scoring before doubling the lead in the 13th minute. The third goal came in the 21st minute thanks to a direct free kick from Mobio Loba Edmond Kouadio.

Trailing 3-0 after 21 minutes, the Fauves' situation deteriorated after 30 minutes of play when their goalkeeper Jovani Guidat-Henzo was sent off pitch. Following his missed clearance, he was penalized by Rwandan referee Aline Umutoni for intentionally touching the ball outside his penalty area. The penalty was finally converted in the 41st minute by Alynho Haïdara, who completed his third goal of the game.

Despite being a man down, the Central Africans reduced the deficit in first-half stoppage time (45'+4), thanks to Anan Jefferson Otto. This goal was supposed to give them confidence, but they were unable to withstand the pressure from the Ivorians, who were consistent in their possession.

Just after the break, Aline Umutoni whistled a free kick at the edge of the Fauves penalty area before changing her mind to whistle a penalty, converted by Haïdara in the 55th minute, his 4th goal (5-1).

In the final moments of the match, Côte d'Ivoire pushed their opponents even further. A sixth goal from Yannis Touali in the 88th minute capped off a team performance and sealed the fate of a match that was entirely in the Ivorian favor. With this resounding 6-1 victory, the Elephants started their tournament in the best possible way and temporarily took the lead in Group C, ahead of Mali on goal difference.