Ivory Coast beats Kenya in final pre-WAFCON friendly clash

The Ivorian women’s national team, the Elephants, recorded their second victory in pre-tournament friendlies on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, as they continue preparations for the 2026 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Morocco.

Facing Kenya at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Ivory Coast secured a narrow 1-0 win, with forward Ello Rebecca delivering the decisive moment. Rebecca struck in the 22nd minute, slotting home the only goal of the match and ensuring the Elephants ended the game with a clean sheet.

Despite efforts from both sides to find the net in the second half, the scoreline remained unchanged, highlighting the defensive resilience of the Ivorian squad. This victory followed last weekend’s success against Benin, giving the team back-to-back wins in their pre-tournament campaign.

The Elephants’ coaching staff expressed satisfaction with the performance, praising the team’s tactical discipline, cohesion, and readiness for the continental challenge ahead. The win is seen as a morale booster as the team fine-tunes their strategies ahead of AWCON, scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco.

With momentum on their side, Ivory Coast now turns its focus fully to the tournament, aiming to make a strong impact and contend for the continental title. The team will hope that the confidence gained from these preparatory victories will translate into success on Africa’s biggest stage for women’s football.