Ivory Coast maintained their lead in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Gambia in Abidjan on Monday. A first-half header from Sébastien Haller and a strong performance from goalkeeper Yahia Fofana proved enough to secure all three points.
The hosts controlled the early stages of the match, dominating possession. The decisive moment came in the 15th minute when Simon Adingra’s cross found Haller, who finished with a poacher’s header past Gambian goalkeeper Ebrima Jarju.
However, Gambia posed a threat throughout, particularly in the second half. The introduction of winger Abdoulie Sanyang caused significant problems for the Ivorian defense.
In the 83rd minute, Sanyang’s run and cross found substitute Alassana Jatta, but Ivorian goalkeeper Fofana saved Jatta’s relatively weak shot. Fofana then produced a crucial block in stoppage time, denying Sanyang after the winger got behind the defense, with Jatta lurking nearby.
While the victory completed a successful March FIFA window for Ivory Coast, with two wins from two matches, the performance was not entirely convincing. The Elephants remain top of Group F, one point ahead of Gabon, with both teams pulling away from the rest of the group.
Gambia, on the other hand, remain in a disappointing fifth place with only four points from six matches. The result adds to their frustration, highlighting their inability to convert promising performances into points.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
