Ivory Coast at World Cup “to make history” – Diomande after late Ecuador win

Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande has insisted the team are at the World Cup with ambition beyond participation after they opened their campaign with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Ecuador.

The West Africans struck late in Philadelphia on Sunday, where Manchester United forward Amad Diallo came off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner in a tightly contested Group game.

Diomande was influential throughout, helping Ivory Coast maintain pressure before the decisive moment.

“It’s always great to start with a win to help with the confidence,” Diomande said, reflecting on a result that also extended attention on his rising profile following an impressive season with RB Leipzig.

He acknowledged the difficulty posed by Ecuador, who arrived with a strong unbeaten run.

“We know Ecuador is a big team. We had to be patient and wait for our opportunity and we got the goal,” he said.

The result marked Ivory Coast’s fourth World Cup appearance and their first since 2014. Despite previous struggles that have seen them fail to progress beyond the group stage, Diomande believes this squad is different.

“We haven’t come here just to be part of it all. We want to make history,” he added.

Attention now turns to a high-profile meeting with Germany in Toronto on June 20. The four-time world champions opened their campaign emphatically with a 7-1 win over Curacao, underlining the challenge ahead for the Ivorians.

Diomande said the team are aware of the scale of the task but remain focused on discipline and composure.

“We’ll do everything we can to win the next match,” he said. “We know that playing against Germany is a tough game and they are one of the biggest teams in the world. We’re waiting for them, but the most important thing is to stay calm and be humble.”

The defeat ended Ecuador’s 19-match unbeaten run stretching back to September 2024, highlighting the significance of Ivory Coast’s opening statement win.

Ivory Coast now prepare for their crucial Group encounter against Germany.