Substitute Amad Diallo scored a clinical 90th-minute winner to give Ivory Coast a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their Group E World Cup opener on Sunday in Philadelphia. Diallo's first-time left-footed strike of Wilfried Singo's cross sealed a dramatic finish to a tight contest in which both sides created chances but failed to convert until the final moments.
The victory marks Ivory Coast's first win at a World Cup in exactly 12 years, since they defeated Japan in Brazil in 2014. It also represents their first World Cup victory over South American opposition and halted Ecuador's 19-match unbeaten run. With this result, Les Elephants have pulled even on points with Germany and can now be confident of making the knockout phase for the first time.
Manager Emerse Fae stated that the win demonstrates the genuine World Cup ambitions of his young side. Ecuador looked strong throughout the match before Diallo's late breakthrough secured the winning start to the campaign for the Ivorians.