Substitute Jean-Philippe Krasso scored twice in the final 16 minutes as reigning champions Ivory Coast began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 2-0 victory over Zambia.
The Elephants, who lifted the trophy on home soil in February, struggled to break down a stubborn Zambian side for much of the match in Bouake.
But Krasso’s introduction proved decisive, with the striker netting in the 74th and 90th minutes to secure all three points for the hosts in their opening Group G qualifier.
The win puts Ivory Coast in a strong position to reach the 2025 finals, with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the tournament in Morocco.
Despite being assured of their place as hosts, Morocco also began their qualifying campaign with a victory on Friday.
The result will boost Ivory Coast’s hopes of defending their title, but manager Jean-Louis Gasset will be concerned by his side’s lack of cutting edge for much of the match.
Zambia, who failed to qualify for the 2023 tournament, showed resilience but ultimately lacked the quality to trouble the champions.
The qualifier was one of five night matches played on the opening day of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
