WORLD CUP: Fiery Amad shoots Ivory Coast to first African victory as Sweden rout Tunisia

Ivory Coast became the first African team to win a match at the World Cup after stunning Ecuador with a 90th minute winner by substitute Amad Diallo ending Ecuador’s La Tricolor’s 19-game unbeaten run.

Buoyed by a statement friendly win over France earlier this month, the Ivory Coast went close to netting an early opener when Bazoumana Touré’s composed shot forced Hernán Galíndez to make a low stop at full stretch. That proved to be one of several promising chances in a fast-paced first-half that saw Ecuador strike the frame of Yahia Fofana’s goal either side of the hydration break.

While they could not find a way past Fofana, the South Americans appeared to be on course for a useful point until they were left stunned by Amad Diallo’s dramatic, late winner. Wilfried Singo powered forward from his own half and drove into the box before he laid the ball across for the Manchester United star to side-foot the ball out of Galíndez’s reach, condemning Ecuador to their first defeat since September 2024.

Meanwhile, Sweden extended their unbeaten run in opening FIFA World Cup (WC) matches to five games as Graham Potter’s side sealed a 5-1 win over Tunisia in Guadalupe to kickstart their Group F campaign.

Viktor Gyökeres, Yasin Ayari, Alexander Isak (brace) and Mattias Svanberg all scored for Sweden in the 5-1 rout of Tunisia.

After reaching the tournament via the play-offs in March despite failing to win a game in the regular qualification round, Sweden showed exactly why they should be here as they hit the ground running by going 2-0 up inside the opening 30 minutes. Tunisia goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh misjudged Victor Lindelöf’s punt forward on the edge of his own box, and whilst Viktor Gyökeres’ follow up was blocked, Yasin Ayari ruthlessly slammed into an unguarded net from 25 yards.

With their tails up following the opener, the Swedes went in pursuit of a second and it arrived on the half hour, as Gyökeres’ clever lay-off released Alexander Isak, and the Liverpool star calmly steered past Chamakh on a devastating counter attack. However, that double setback did not deter Tunisia, as Omar Rekik slipped his marker to nod home Hannibal Mejbri’s floated cross to cut the deficit just before HT.

After going into the break with the momentum of their goal, Tunisia would’ve expected to rally after the restart but it never materialised, which allowed Sweden to wrap up victory on the hour mark. Captain Ellyes Skhiri was pressed into an error by Isak, and Sweden’s No.9 turned provider to Gyökeres from close-range, as the Arsenal hitman lashed past the stricken Chamakh for his 15th goal in his last 16 international games. Tunisia showed some signs of life in the final quarter-hour – as Mejbri’s creativity caused problems for the Blågult – but the African giants conceded twice late on, rounding off a fine night for Potter’s men. First, Mattias Svanberg swept home a tidy finish in the box, before Ayari lashed home from outside the box to make it 5-1.

Additional report by Flashscore