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00:00Scored 13 goals in his last 14 matches.
00:06They'll have to find goals from elsewhere.
00:10So the referee blows the whistle and away we go in Buake.
00:15Home side get us underway, reigning champions Cote d'Ivoire take on Zambia
00:20in Group G of qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
00:26Ivorians in their traditional bright orange shooting from right to left
00:31ahead of the World Cup qualifiers earlier in the year.
00:37For now it's Cote d'Ivoire on the front foot.
00:41The first attack of the game was put in by Simon Nadinga.
00:46Cleared away but a clear statement of intent from the home side.
00:52It's all a bit desperate as Laurence Malinga clears it away.
00:56It's given away by Gittempande.
00:59Will they be punished?
01:01Not.
01:02It is looking more and more like a 4-5-1 with Diakite on the right.
01:06Gesson leading the line and he's waiting in the middle.
01:09Is he going to reach him this time?
01:10Beautiful interchange between Diallo and Gessier.
01:15Couldn't quite get there.
01:21And now Zambia will look to break.
01:24Sarri wins it back.
01:28The game a little stretched.
01:29Can Cote d'Ivoire take advantage?
01:31Gessier crosses the face of goal.
01:34No one there.
01:35Diakite picks it up at the back post.
01:39Diallo again.
01:40Bursting away.
01:41Cutting inside.
01:42Into the box.
01:43Goes down.
01:44No penalty says the referee.
01:47Home fans not best pleased.
01:49Diallo still in the box.
01:51Now here comes Adingra.
01:54He's to the back post.
01:55And it was Diallo waiting there.
01:58Somehow couldn't find the target.
02:03Puffing there yet to blow down the Zambian wall.
02:09Five or so minutes in the first half.
02:12If they are to do so before the break.
02:16And they so nearly did.
02:19Across the face of goal.
02:21Umar Diakite again.
02:29And there is the half-time whistle.
02:32So pretty much one-way traffic.
02:35But no goal delivered by said traffic.
02:42Cote d'Ivoire with a couple of massive chances.
02:45Well, one massive chance certainly.
02:47Falling to Umar Diallo.
02:49Somehow put the ball over the bar from point-blank range.
02:57Mustafa Gobal gets his back under way.
03:02Second half of this match day one.
03:06AFCON qualify between Cote d'Ivoire and Diallo.
03:10AFCON qualify between Cote d'Ivoire and Zambia.
03:14Homeside in orange now shooting from left to right.
03:18As we watch on in the second 45.
03:23Can Zambia do anything to see the momentum swing in the opposite direction?
03:34Or will the Ivorians pick up where they left off?
03:37But make good on their chances.
03:44Diallo.
03:45A run at the defence again.
03:46Uses speed.
03:48And he left.
03:49And from Abraham Grant.
03:51Chalufia replaced by Chama.
03:54Whipped in by Atingra.
03:57And it's another big chance this time.
03:59It fell to Diakite.
04:03Atingra gives it away.
04:07Here comes another counter.
04:10Chama again.
04:11More advanced role.
04:14And it's the shot.
04:15Can't find a man in the middle.
04:20And this is about as much space in which to operate that the Ivorians have enjoyed at any point in the second half.
04:26Can they do anything with it?
04:27Atingra now on the right-hand side.
04:30Here is one of the substitutes.
04:32And of course it's the super sub.
04:38Jean-Philippe Grasso opens the scoring.
04:42Within minutes of entering the pitch.
04:58See forward.
05:02He said he was one to watch.
05:05And there is goal number five for his country.
05:13Two defenders standing off him.
05:17Atingra gets the assist.
05:19In truth he was owed from the first half.
05:23A couple of dummy shots.
05:27Perhaps a little unsighted.
05:29Lawrence Malinga.
05:31Two men in the way.
05:34But drilled beyond him either way.
05:37And finally the Côte d'Ivoire have their goal.
05:39And that's what it means to MS Faye.
05:49A free kick.
05:50It's on target for him.
05:54I think he was aware.
05:56Played the pass with plenty of time.
05:58Here is Dorjolet over to Dewey.
06:01The two substitutes combining.
06:07Atingra makes it back.
06:11To Grasso.
06:13Waiting now is the sole centre forward.
06:18Guess I'm having departed.
06:29Lofted forwards by Seri.
06:32Traore will bring it down.
06:36In no hurry.
06:38Does well to pick out Grasso.
06:40Gets it back.
06:41Is he onside?
06:42Looks like he was.
06:43Laid up for Grasso.
06:47Two for Jean-Philippe Grasso.
06:49Two for the Côte d'Ivoire.
06:53And that surely is three goals.
06:56And that surely is three points in the bag for the reigning champions.
07:05And finally a smile from MS Faye.
07:09Of course came in and almost immediately won the Afghan hard man to please.
07:15This will certainly please him though.
07:17A lovely interchange between his first two substitutes.
07:23A one-two.
07:25And then a one again.
07:26Teed up and a first time shot.
07:28Tipped I think by the fingertips of Laurence Melinga onto the underside of the bar.
07:35No stopping it though.
07:44And there the final whistle.
07:46Job done.
07:49For Côte d'Ivoire.
07:52One down.
07:54One win.
07:57All smiles.
07:59Plenty of embraces on the pitch.
08:01Less soap for the visitors than Abraham Grant.
08:05A tough day at the office.
08:07They defended hard and held out for well over an hour.