Manchester United winger Amad Diallo was quick to single out his club teammate Bryan Mbeumo for praise after Ivory Coast were held to a 1-1 draw by Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The two United players found themselves on opposing sides as their countries clashed, but Amad insisted the respect between them remained strong before and after the final whistle.
“Bryan is a good teammate; a good lad,” Amad said. “We talked before the game, and after the match I told him we could change jerseys. I wish him all the best with Cameroon.”
Amad’s words came after another productive outing for the Ivorian international, who scored for the second match in a row at the tournament. His goal helped Ivory Coast avoid defeat, even though the winger admitted he was more focused on securing all three points than on personal milestones.
“It’s a good goal, but I don’t think it’s one of my best,” he added. “I was happy, but I really wanted us to win the game.”
Mbeumo, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes for Cameroon and had three efforts on goal, though he is still waiting to open his account at this year’s AFCON. Despite the competitive edge of the contest, the post-match shirt swap between the pair underlined the bond forged at club level.
With one group game remaining, Amad made it clear his attention has already shifted back to the task ahead with Ivory Coast.
“I want to think about myself and my team now,” he said. “We have to try and win the last game.”
The final round of fixtures will decide the group standings, with the winners expected to face South Africa in the last 16, while the runners-up could meet either Burkina Faso or Sudan.
