Ivory Coast edges out France in World Cup group stage match

France Suffers 2-1 Defeat in Friendly Match Against Ivory Coast Ahead of 2026 World Cup

In a friendly match held in Nantes, France suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast. The Elephants scored two goals, with Guela Doue and Amad Diallo securing the win for their team.

The match took place on Thursday, with Rayan Cherki scoring the first goal for France in the first half. However, Ivory Coast regained control after halftime, with Doue and Diallo turning the game around.

France fielded an experimental side, with several players rested due to last weekend’s Champions League final triumph. The team made numerous changes after halftime, including defender Lucas Hernandez. Aurelien Tchouameni, France’s midfielder, stated that the result should be viewed in the context of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

Tchouameni said, “It’s a pity to lose, but we’re in a preparation phase; we stay confident.” He added that there is no conclusion to draw from this game, even if France had won. The team will be ready for their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16 in New York.

France coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged that his side lost control of the contest after an encouraging opening half and warned that they would face opponents with similar qualities to Ivory Coast in the United States. Deschamps stated, “A defeat is never pleasant, even if we did some good things in the first half.” He added that France will make changes to their strategy before the World Cup.

The result could serve as a reminder for France not to become complacent before the tournament. Cherki said, “It’s a little warning, and I can tell you we’re not going to the World Cup thinking we’re favourites, but we’re going to crush everyone.”

Source: Al Jazeera