Cote d’Ivoire beat Somalia to maintain perfect start in CAN 2027 qualifying

Cote d’Ivoire made it two wins from two in the CAN 2027 qualifiers by beating Somalia 2-0 at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium on Tuesday.

The result followed their victory over Ghana and gives the Elephants six points from six, with no goals conceded. However, the performance was less convincing, with Herve Renard’s side struggling for long periods to break down a well-organised Somali defence.

Cote d’Ivoire controlled possession but lacked the pace and movement needed to unsettle their opponents. The breakthrough did not come until late in the match, when the introduction of Yann Gboho and Bazoumana Toure helped change the game.

Gboho, who came through at Toulouse and now plays for Coventry in England, opened the scoring after finding himself in the right place at the right time. It was his first goal for the national team.

A few minutes later, Toure added a second to secure the victory and ensure Cote d’Ivoire collected maximum points from their opening two matches.

For Arthur Boka, the impact made by the younger players is an encouraging sign as Renard begins a new cycle with the national team. Their contribution also underlined the value of having alternatives capable of changing the rhythm of a match from the bench.

The starting XI had struggled to find a way through Somalia’s defensive block, but the substitutions brought greater speed to Cote d’Ivoire’s attacking play. The result showed that the team has options available when its initial approach is not producing enough opportunities.

Despite the clean sheet and the three points, Boka remained less satisfied with the overall content of the performance. Cote d’Ivoire had control of the ball, but too often moved it slowly and failed to create the kind of sustained pressure needed to put the match beyond doubt earlier.

The Elephants could also have made the result more comfortable before the closing stages. A lack of precision in front of goal, along with questionable decisions in attacking situations, allowed Somalia to remain in contention for much of the game.

The outcome nevertheless represents an ideal start in terms of results: two victories, six points and no goals conceded. Boka’s assessment is that there is no reason to overstate the shortcomings, but equally that the scoreline should not conceal the areas still requiring improvement.

Cote d’Ivoire’s next fixture will be a friendly against Cameroon on 3 October. That match will provide a tougher test and an opportunity to assess how much progress the team has made, particularly in its collective control and attacking fluency.