AFCON 2021, Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Ivory Coast: Gradel stunner gets Elephants off to a winning start

Douala (Cameroon), January 13: Max Gradel's fifth-minute stunner was enough to see Ivory Coast start their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.

In just the second AFCON meeting between the two nations, experienced winger Gradel sent a thunderous first-time effort into the top-right corner to put the Elephants ahead in their opening encounter in Douala on Wednesday (January 12).

Yet despite facing a star-studded Ivory Coast side, Equatorial Guinea can consider themselves unfortunate not to have taken something against the two-time AFCON champions.

Indeed, Gradel's effort was the only attempt on target from Ivory Coast until substitute Nicolas Pepe forced a save from Manuel Sapunga in the 81st minute.

Emilio Nsue squandered Equatorial Guinea's best opportunity just after the hour-mark, drilling straight at Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare when through one-on-one.

But the Elephants were not made to pay for their relatively blunt attacking, given the quality at their disposal, as they took the lead in Group E and ensured their run of avoiding defeat in AFCON openers continued, having last gone down in such a game in 1996.

An emotional moment for 🇨🇮 @maxigr04del ❤️#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 | #TeamCoteDivoire | #GNQCIV | @FIFCI_tweet pic.twitter.com/zMktrkoUeq

— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 🏆 (@CAF_Online) January 12, 2022