2026 World Cup: Ivory Coast serve notice as France discover the Elephants cannot be ignored

Ivory Coast’s 2-1 triumph over France on Thursday may have been merely a friendly against a heavily rotated Bleus outfit, yet it offered tantalising evidence that the Elephants could emerge as genuine forces at the World Cup.

As the tournament approaches, much of the spotlight on Africa’s contenders has fallen on Morocco and Senegal, the continent’s recent Africa Cup of Nations standard-bearers tipped to go deep.

After their spirited come-from-behind victory over the 2018 world champions in Nantes, however, it may be time to reassess what this West African powerhouse is capable of.

Rewriting the history books

For all that it carried no silverware, the result held real historical weight. In close to 30 meetings with African opposition across competitive and friendly fixtures, this marked only the fifth occasion France have ever been beaten by a side from the continent.

The list of those who have managed the feat is short: Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, South Africa in 2010, Tunisia in 2022 and Nigeria in a 2009 friendly. Crucially, in three prior attempts the Elephants had never before toppled the European giants, making Thursday’s success a genuine first.

The performance should also embolden Senegal, who open their Group I campaign against Didier Deschamps’ men at the MetLife Stadium on June 16. If Ivory Coast can expose French frailties, the Teranga Lions will fancy their own chances of a fast start.

A word of caution

Encouraging as it was, both Ivory Coast and Senegal would be wise to temper their excitement. This was far from the France that awaits in East Rutherford in just under a fortnight.

Deschamps was without the injured William Saliba, while PSG’s Champions League-winning pair Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué sat out entirely.

The French coach then made wholesale alterations, first at the interval while leading, then again on 66 minutes, leaving his side disjointed and vulnerable before Amad Diallo’s 84th-minute winner.

The Ivorians, themselves missing key men and shuffling their pack in the second half, nonetheless merited enormous credit for their fightback.

A tale of two Doue brothers

There was a delicious subplot in the Doue family story. While Désiré had lifted the European crown with PSG days earlier, it was older brother Guela who seized the limelight in Nantes.

The Strasbourg right-back levelled in the 53rd minute, pouncing on muddled French defending – and another Ibrahima Konaté lapse – to finish a slick Ivorian move past Mike Maignan.

French-born Guela had sung both anthems before kick-off, then celebrated by booting the corner flag bearing the French Football Federation crest.

The brothers shared a warm embrace at full time, though it was Guela who walked away the hero. “The coach gives me a lot of liberty,” he told NCI Television, “and that allows me to have a lot of fun on the pitch, connect with the players who are ahead of me, and I was able to bring a lot to the team today.”

Building blocks for a deep run

Head coach Emerse Fae will have drawn particular satisfaction from goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, who produced a string of fine stops to keep his side in the contest.

Powerless to deny Rayan Cherki’s stunning opener, the stopper still made five saves and impressed with his command and presence. With first-choice centre-backs Odilon Kossounou and Ousmane Diomande largely absent, Ivory Coast can expect their defensive solidity to grow stronger still before Group E fixtures against Ecuador, Germany and Curacao.

Up front, Nicolas Pépé made a compelling case for himself. Overlooked for AFCON, the Villarreal winger followed his goal against Scotland in March with another sharp display, having contributed to 16 goals in 36 LaLiga appearances this term.

As the squad’s only forward over the age of 24, the former Arsenal man looks primed for a leading role after surviving Fae’s cull of seasoned attackers.

A feast of attacking riches

In truth, Fae’s most enviable problem is one of abundance. Beyond Pépé and matchwinner Diallo, he can summon new face Elye Wahi, coveted RB Leipzig talent Yan Diomande and emerging gems Ange-Yoan Bonny and Bazoumana Touré, all behind a grizzled midfield bolstered by the returning captain Franck Kessié.

Many of these players tasted glory on home soil at AFCON 2024, and this generation appears equipped to become the first Ivory Coast side ever to reach the World Cup knockout stages — succeeding where the celebrated Golden Generation repeatedly fell short.