The Ivory Coast national team proved they are a force to be reckoned with after securing a stunning 2-1 victory over France in a friendly match played in Nantes, France, as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The result marked Ivory Coast's first-ever win against France in the history of their meetings.
France started the match strongly and took the lead through attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, who continued to demonstrate the excellent form that has made him one of the players expected to shine at the World Cup. However, the momentum shifted completely after halftime.
Strasbourg defender Guela Doué, the brother of France forward Désiré Doué, equalized for Ivory Coast shortly after the start of the second half. He later provided the assist for Manchester United winger Amad Diallo, who scored the winning goal to hand the Elephants a memorable victory before their World Cup campaign.
France head coach Didier Deschamps made several changes during the second half, a move that affected his team's stability. Ivory Coast took full advantage of its pace and physical strength in attack, showing that it could be one of the African teams to watch at the tournament.
The result comes as Ivory Coast prepares to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Under head coach Emerse Faé, who guided the team to the 2023 AFCON title, the Elephants have made significant progress and boast a squad that combines talented young players with experienced stars such as Franck Kessié, Evan Ndicka, Ibrahim Sangaré, and Amad Diallo.
Despite the defeat, the France camp described the match as a valuable lesson ahead of its World Cup campaign. Deschamps and his players remain confident that Les Bleus are still among the favorites to challenge for the title.
Ivory Coast will begin its World Cup campaign against Ecuador, while France is set to open its tournament against Senegal. The victory over one of the world's top teams has boosted the Elephants' confidence and sent a strong message to their rivals that they are ready for the challenge of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
