Ivory Coast’s U-17 national team opened their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in dominant fashion, securing a resounding 6-1 victory over the Central African Republic (CAR).
Striker Alynho Haidara stole the show with an impressive four-goal haul, setting the tone for what could be a promising tournament for the young Elephants.
Early dominance sets the tone
From the opening whistle, Ivory Coast dictated the tempo, quickly asserting control in midfield and pressing high up the pitch.
Their attacking intent paid off almost immediately when Haidara found the net in the fourth minute, capitalizing on an early defensive lapse.
The forward struck again in the 13th minute, doubling the lead as the Ivorians overwhelmed a struggling CAR defense.
The relentless pressure continued, and Franck Koidio added a third goal in the 21st minute, further solidifying their dominance.
CAR struggles as Haidara seizes the spotlight
The Central African Republic’s woes deepened in the 31st minute when their goalkeeper, Guidat Henzo, was shown a red card for a reckless challenge outside the box.
The situation worsened when the resulting free kick led to a handball, gifting Ivory Coast a penalty.
Haidara stepped up confidently, completing his hat-trick in the 41st minute.
Despite being outplayed, CAR managed to pull one back just before halftime, with Anan Jefferson Otto scoring in stoppage time (45+4) to give his team a glimmer of hope.
Haidara’s fourth and a late flourish
With a numerical advantage and complete control of the match, Ivory Coast continued their attacking display in the second half.
Another penalty was awarded in the 55th minute, and Haidara made no mistake, scoring his fourth goal of the match.
As the game approached full-time, Yannis Touali added a final touch in the 88th minute, sealing the 6-1 rout.
The Central African Republic struggled to pose any real threat, managing just one shot on target throughout the match.
With this commanding victory, Ivory Coast sends a strong message to their Group C rivals, with Haidara emerging as one of the standout players to watch in the tournament.
