Ivory Coast suffered a disappointing setback in the second round of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, losing 2-1 to Ethiopia on Tuesday in Bahir Dar. The Elephants had initially taken the lead in the third minute, when Serge Aurier converted a chance to put his team ahead.
However, the Ethiopians quickly responded. Surafel Dagachew’s deflected free-kick in the 15th minute brought the Walias back on level terms, and they continued to dominate the proceedings. Just ten minutes later, Shemeles Bekele put Ethiopia ahead with a well-taken goal, giving the home side a 2-1 advantage.
Despite Ivory Coast improving their performance in the second half and creating several opportunities, they were unable to break through Ethiopia’s defense. The Elephants thus suffered their first defeat of the qualifiers, leaving them under pressure in their group.
Meanwhile, Niger will host Madagascar in Niamey at 4 PM GMT, with both teams seeking to capitalize on Ivory Coast’s slip and gain a foothold in the group standings.
The loss highlights Ivory Coast’s struggles to convert early dominance into results and underscores the challenge they face in maintaining consistency in the 2021 AFCON qualifying campaign.
