AFCON Qualifiers
Group Stage · Matchday 3
📍 Stade de la Paix, Bouake
AFCON Qualifiers·Group Stage · Matchday 3
Key Moments
⚽Malick Yalcouyé
17'(Ivory Coast)⚽Elye Wahi
24'(Ivory Coast)⚽Musa Barrow
38'(Gambia)
Stats Snapshot
63%Possession37%
21
Shots
7
7
On Target
3
12
Corners
8
★
Player of the Match
Malick Yalcouyé
Ivory Coast · MID
8.31 Goal
📋 Match Report
Ivory Coast controlled this one from the first half-hour. Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring in the 17th minute, turning in Nicolas Pépé’s assist, and Elye Wahi made it 2-0 seven minutes later after Yan Diomande set him up. Gambia found a response through Musa Barrow in the 38th minute, with Alagie Saine credited for the pass, but that was as close as they got; they spent long stretches with little more than possession to chase and rarely asked questions of Ivory Coast after the break. Yalcouyé, named player of the match, was right in the middle of the work that settled the game. Ivory Coast finish the night top of Group C on nine points after three games, with Gambia second on six.
GoalPost's read · before kickoff
Ivory Coast were GoalPost's favorites at 45% and won 2–1.
GoalPost favors Ivory Coast, and Diomande gives them the cleanest edge: GoalPost rates the forward as the standout here, GPS 84. Ivory Coast arrive on two straight wins, with Diomande giving them a direct outlet when the game opens up, while Gambia have also won two in a row and have Minteh up front to stretch the line if they can find him early. The last two meetings on record went Ivory Coast’s way, and the recent sample reads one-sided. No absences to work around. GoalPost still sees Ivory Coast as the sharper side in the final third, with the question whether Gambia can keep Minteh involved long enough to make them chase the ball. We’ll be watching Diomande against Gambia’s center backs.
The forecast
Ivory Coast 45%Draw 28%Gambia 27%
Expected goals before kickoff: Ivory Coast 1.2, Gambia 0.8
Match Insights
- Ivory Coast pressed relentlessly (PPDA 9.7) while Gambia sat deeper (16.7), content to absorb pressure and counter.
- Yan Diomande was Ivory Coast's chief creator, topping the match for chance creation.
- Hassane Kamara was Ivory Coast's engine — the hardest worker on the pitch, involved everywhere.
Derived from match statistics — no opinion, just the numbers.
Match Momentumbars = xG added per window, GoalPost model
Ivory Coast17'⚽
24'⚽
45+3'
70'↑↓
70'↑↓
70'↑↓
81'↑↓
87'
90+2'↑↓
KO
HT
FT
Gambia⚽38'
↑↓45'
↑↓63'
↑↓63'
↑↓76'
↑↓83'
0306090
Match Commentary
FT🏁
Full-time — Ivory Coast win 2–1. Yalcouyé's goal in the 17th minute won it. GoalPost's player of the match: Yalcouyé. As it stands, Ivory Coast are top of Group C on 9 points after 3 games; Gambia are 2nd on 6. That's all from Stade de la Paix — thanks for following along with GoalPost.
90+5'👟
Ceesay is lively for Gambia.
90+4'⭐
Diomande has been the pick of the Ivory Coast players so far.
90+2'⏱️
INTO ADDED TIME — Ivory Coast 2–1 Gambia. Ivory Coast are ahead going into the final minutes.
90+2'🎯
Ivory Coast are peppering the goal — 5 different players have had a go since the last look.
90+2'📡
Ivory Coast are totally on top — Gambia with nothing in reply, and you sense a goal isn't far away.
90+2'📊
That's 6 shots on target for Ivory Coast.
90+2'🔄
Agbadou comes on for Yalcouyé. Ivory Coast's fifth change.
Ivory Coast
87'🟨
Sangaré is booked for a foul.
Ivory Coast
85'👟
Minteh gets in on the act for Gambia.
85'🧤
Gaye does his bit for Gambia; it's the other end where they need help.
83'🔄
Gassama comes on for Adams. Gambia's fifth change.
Gambia
81'🎯
A flurry of efforts from Ivory Coast — Diakité and Diallo among those trying their luck.
81'📊
That's 3 shots on target for Ivory Coast.
81'🔄
Godo comes on for Diallo. Ivory Coast's fourth change.
Ivory Coast
76'🔄
A. Sanyang comes on for J. Ceesay. Gambia's fourth change.
Gambia
75'⭐
Yalcouyé is having a fine game for Ivory Coast.
75'🛡️
Barrow has broken up a couple of Ivory Coast moves in midfield.
73'🎯
Ivory Coast are peppering the goal — 4 different players have had a go since the last look.
73'👟
Ceesay is chipping in for Gambia going forward.
70'🔵
Ivory Coast are having more of the ball, and Gambia are content to let them.
70'📊
Ivory Coast have had 67% of the ball.
70'🔄
Ivory Coast make a triple change: K. Ouattara for Pépé, Diakité for Wahi and Kessié for Kamara.
Ivory Coast
65'👟
It's not all Wahi for Ivory Coast — Diallo is a threat too.
65'🛡️
Bojang is getting stuck in for Gambia.
63'🔄
Gambia make a double change: Barry for Bajo and A. Ceesay for Badamosi.
Gambia
62'💨
Ivory Coast are having a go — Sangaré and Diallo both try their luck.
59'⭐
Wahi is the one making it happen for Ivory Coast right now.
58'🎯
Colley and Badamosi both have efforts for Gambia.
58'👟
Barrow keeps getting involved for Gambia.
58'📊
That's 2 shots on target for Gambia.
56'📡
Momentum's swinging towards Gambia now.
52'🔵
Ivory Coast are dictating everything — happy to make Gambia do the running.
48'👟
Diallo is lively for Ivory Coast.
48'📊
1 shot and 4 key passes for Diallo so far.
48'🟢
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY — Ivory Coast 2–1 Gambia. Can Gambia find a way back in?
HT⏸️
HALF-TIME — Ivory Coast 2–1 Gambia. Ivory Coast have earned it — the better chances have been theirs.
45+3'🟨
Diallo is booked for time-wasting.
Ivory Coast
45+2'⏱️
INTO ADDED TIME — Ivory Coast 2–1 Gambia. Ivory Coast lead going into added time before the break.
45'🔄
Minteh comes on for E. Colley at the break. Gambia's first change.
Gambia
44'💨
Off target from Diomande.
43'🎯
A flurry of efforts from Ivory Coast — Zogbe and Sangaré among those trying their luck.
43'👟
Pépé gets in on the act for Ivory Coast.
43'📊
That's 3 shots on target for Ivory Coast.
38'⚽
GOAL! Barrow pulls one back for Gambia — 2–1. Saine with the assist.
Gambia
36'🔺
It's one-way traffic from Ivory Coast — hardly a moment's escape for the other side.
35'👟
Diomande is chipping in for Ivory Coast going forward.
35'📡
This has turned into a siege — Ivory Coast camped in on the Gambia goal, and nothing in reply.
33'🧤
Gaye is alert to stop Gambia falling further behind.
33'⭐
Gambia haven't found an answer to Wahi yet.
33'📊
His first save so far.
28'🎯
Ivory Coast are starting to find a way through.
28'👟
Pépé keeps getting involved for Ivory Coast.
25'📡
Ivory Coast have seized this by the throat — Gambia can't get out of their own half.
25'📊
0.6 xG to 0 in Ivory Coast's favor across the last 13 minutes.
24'⚽
GOAL! Wahi makes it 2–0 to Ivory Coast. Y. Diomande with the assist.
Ivory Coast
22'🎯
Colley hits the target for Gambia.
21'👟
Yalcouyé is lively for Ivory Coast.
18'🔵
Ivory Coast have taken a firm grip on this — Gambia can't get a look at the ball.
18'📊
Ivory Coast have had 81% of the ball.
17'⚽
GOAL! Yalcouyé opens the scoring for Ivory Coast. Pépé with the assist.
Ivory Coast
16'⭐
Zogbe has been excellent for Ivory Coast so far.
14'🎯
Colley gets one on target for Gambia.
14'👟
Barrow gets in on the act for Gambia.
12'🧤
Fofana is called into action for the first time and does well.
12'📊
His first save so far.
3'🔵
Ivory Coast are dictating the tempo — Gambia have hardly had a kick.
3'📊
Ivory Coast have had 100% of the ball.
KO🗞️
Renard's Ivory Coast host McKinstry's Gambia.
KO🗞️
These two last met in March 2025, in the World Cup - Qualification Africa at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny — Ivory Coast won 1–0.
KO🗞️
GoalPost makes Ivory Coast favorites — 45% to win, against Gambia's 27%.
KO📝
Ivory Coast set up in a 4-3-3 — Fofana; Zogbe, O. Diomande, Ndicka, Kamara; Sangaré, Diallo, Yalcouyé; Y. Diomande, Wahi, Pépé.
KO📝
Gambia go 4-2-3-1 — Gaye; Ceesay, Bojang, O. Colley, Saine; Bajo, Adams; E. Colley, Touray, Barrow; Badamosi up top.
KO🟢
Welcome in — Ivory Coast against Gambia at Stade de la Paix, the Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification group stage. Abdou Abdel Mefire is the referee.
Video Highlights
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Match Info
CompetitionAFCON Qualifiers
RoundGroup Stage - 3
Matchday3
VenueStade de la Paix
KickoffThu, Nov 12 · 7:00 PM UTC
🏟 Stadium Info
Stade de la PaixBouake