Ivory Coast 1-0 Guinea-Bissau – AFCON: Live score, team news and updates as Seko Fofana gives the hosts the perfect start to the tournament

Aurier – who has taken the captain’s armband – gives the ball away in a dangerous area.

Balde seizes on his mistake and drives towards goal. He tries to find Rodrigues but his pass is under-hit and Konan clears for a corner.

Although Fofana in the Ivory Coast net is yet to really be tested, Guinea-Bissau are getting into some dangerous areas, but just lacking that all-important quality.

We are back underway for the second half.

One change for the hosts, with Aurier replacing Singo.

This is the former Tottenham defender’s fifth AFCON!

That Fofana finish is an early contender for the goal of the tournament, despite being the first one of this year’s edition.

But how does it compare to the best strikes last time out?

While we are waiting for the second half to get underway, take a look at the best goals from AFCON 2021 below.

Despite not necessarily building upon their dominance with the ball, there have still been plenty of positive signs for the Ivory Coast.

I’ve been really impressed with Fofana and Kessie in midfield, with Sangare sweeping up well behind them.

Both Boga and Bamba have looked dangerous on the wings, but have perhaps lacked that final quality.

Brilliant from the Al-Nassr star!

And that’s that for the first 45 minutes.

Ivory Coast are ahead thanks to Fofana’s fourth-minute stunner.

He almost made it two with another brilliant effort from the edge of the box, but Djoco tipped it onto the crossbar.

The hosts have dominated much of the ball, but it’s been that final delivery that has let them down.

Guinea-Bissau will fancy their chances of getting back into the game while it’s just 1-0 and Mane, Balde and Rodrigues have looked bright up-front for them.

All to play for in the second half!

Sangare and Balde challenge for the ball and both players go down holding their heads.

It looks like the Nottingham Forest man led with his elbow.

He’s rolling around in pain but as he gets up, he’s greeted with a yellow card.

That won’t help with the soreness!

While it stays 1-0, Guinea-Bissau will keep believing.

They almost work it well, but Singo covers and nudges Mane off the ball. Great defending!

Cassama then thwarts Krasso on the break and is booked for a cynical foul.

Four minutes of added time.

Ivory Coast want a penalty!

They break away and Bamba plays it across to Krasso in the cetnre.

He seems to lose his footing as the ball deflects wide. The referee is having none of it and gives a goal kick.

Ivory Coast are ticking.

Kessie plays in Krasso. The striker cuts inside. He has options but chooses to shoot and Sangante makes a great block.

After a slow period of play, the hosts are purring and the game has really come to life.

Ndicka is now down after a clash of heads with Alfa Semedo, but it looks like they’ll both be OK to continue.

Singo breaks away up the pitch. He feeds in Bamba.

The attack looks to break down but Kessie picks it up and drags the ball back to Fofana on the edge of the area.

He curls it perfectly but Djoco makes an unbelievable save to get a fingertip on the ball and guide it onto the crossbar.

Outstanding goalkeeping!

For all the possession the hosts have had, that’s their first real big chance since the goal, but it was almost two stunners from Fofana.

He;s been brilliant driving forward from midfield so far.

Huge chance for Guinea-Bissau!

Singo plays a dreadful pass across the pitch and Rodrigues just beats Ndicka to the ball and gets clattereed.

Balde picks up the ball and drives towards goal but scuffs his shot. He could have squared that to Mane.

Ndicka is booked for his lunging challenge. It was a strong one but probably the right decision from the referee.

Ivory Coast’s wingers – Boga and Bamba – are causing all sorts of trouble as they continue to create openings.

Sangare at the base of midfield is then cleaning anything up that comes through.

It looks hot out in Abidjan, but the home crowd remain in good voice.

Boga goes on a mazy run and beats three players. He thinks he’s won a corner but it’s not given.

The hosts are dominant, but Guinea-Bissau’s front three of Mane, Balde and Rodrigues have looked bright.

They’ll hope they can catch the Ivory Coast on the counter.

OOH! Nearly another stunner.

Some neat play from Ivory Coast in midfield – where Sangare is sitting behind Fofana and Kessie – results in the Nottingham Forest man playing a lofted ball to Krasso.

The striker tries to take it on the volley, and connect well with his left foot, but it goes over the bar.

A confident first 15 minutes for the hosts.

It’s continued to be comfortable for the hosts since the goal, with Kessie and Boga looking particularly dangerous.

Take another look at Fofana’s stunning opener below.

I’ve just seen another replay of that goal and it was really great feet from Fofana, who managed to create space for the shot despite having three players around him.

Guinea-Bissau then break and Balde goes for the spectacular after Cande delivers his cross, but he can’t connect with his bicycle kick.

Fofana jumps on the loose ball.

Singo then heads over the crossbar from a corner for Ivory Coast.

What a start!

Guinea-Bissau give the ball away in defence, Kessie picks it up and lays it off to Fofana.

He shifts the ball onto his right foot just outside the area and curls a delightful effort past Djoco and into the top corner.

The home fans erupt. That’s just what they needed.

But the worst possible start for Guinea-Bissau.

A solid start from the hosts who are having most of the poessesion.

They force an early corner and Kessie delivers a nice ball, but Djoco comes to punch well.

And we’re off!

Eight minutes later than scheduled.

Here we go…

Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare is the only English-based players in Ivory Coast’s starting line-up.

His team-mates at the City Ground – Serge Aurier and Willy Boly – are on the bench and joined by former Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe.

The home crowd are really making themsleves heard here.

Keep an eye on Mama Balde and Mauro Rodrigues in the front-line for Guinea-Bissau. They are likely to be the main dangers to the hosts.

We’re running a little bit behind schedule after a variety of speeches from dignatories, including CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who promised ‘the best AFCON’ ever.

We were meant to be kicking off at 8PM but it looks like there are a few more presentations and shows just yet.

A reminder that a host nation hasn’t won this tournament since 2006 so the Ivory Coast will hope to buck that trend.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau might be the minnows, but they matched their opponents record in qualifying.

The national anthems are just being sung now.

International tournaments can be a reputation-maker or breaker.

AFCON is no different. Herve Renard and Aliou Cisse have won great acclaim with their recent successes in the tournament and at the World Cup.

It’s a stomping ground for grizzled veterans as well as up-and-coming bosses. Lead your team to glory and your fame in the homeland will last a lifetime.

And there’s plenty of familiar faces at this year’s tournament.

Read our full story below…

Alongside Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are in group A of the tournament.

Nigeria, despite struggling in recent times, are actually ranked above the Ivory Coast in the world ranking at 42 compared to the their position in 49th.

Equatorial Guinea are down in 88th and, as mentioned, Guinea-Bissau are world No 103.

Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has just been giving a speech to the crowd in attendance at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

30 Premier League stars will be competing in the Ivory Coast over the next month, along with several players from the EFL.

Newcastle, Man City and Burnley are the only three top flight teams to have no-one away.

Mail Sport has cleared up which players each club will be without below…

Kick off is under 30 minutes away.

Guinea-Bissau have never won a game at AFCON so it’s going to be difficult, but they will able to play without pressure.

Meanwhile, only three times in history has a host nation lost the opening match of the tournament.

For context, there’s been 33 editions of AFCON.

Good question! This is the second time in a row it’s happened too, with the 2021 edition also taking place in 2022.

This is because the tournament was originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2023, but it was postponed by the Confederation of African Football due to the adverse summer weather conditions in the Ivory Coast.

After 120 minutes of goalless action, Senegal and Egypt went to penalties.

Sadio Mane’s scored the winning penalty after some Edouard Mendy heroics as Senegal won 4-2 on spot kicks.

You can relive the action from that dramatic evening below…

They look set to match Ivory Coast’s 4-3-3 formation.

Bolton’s Carlos Mendes Gomes is on the bench, but there are no English-based players in the starting XI.

They set up as follows: Djoco; Jefferson Encada, Sangante, Djalo, Cande; Cassama, Bikel, Alfa Semedo; Rodrigues, Balde, Mane

The minnows are ranked 103rd in the world.

Although they will be outnumbered, there is still some support for them tonight.

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for.

Haller is absent! That’s a big early blow for the hosts who line-up as follows.

(4-3-3) – Fofana; Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, Fofana; Boga, Krasso, Bamba

They are sure to be backed by a boisterous and supportive crowd this evening.

Jean-Louis Gasset can call upon several well-known names for this tournament after selecting a star-studded squad.

However, one notable omission is Wilfried Zaha, who was snubbed by the Frenchman despite continuing to impress for Galatasaray this season.

Key men Franck Kessie, Seko Fofana and Sebastian Haller are likely to have a major impact if their country are to be successful.

Their squad can be found in full below:

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Charles Folly (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa).

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly (both Nottingham Forest, England), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France).

Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest, England), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England).

Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Karim Konate (RB Salzburg, Austria), Christian Kouame (Fiorentina, Italy), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Oumar Diakite (Reims, France), Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey).

It looks like a right party out in Abidjan right now!

Tonight’s game kicks off at 8PM and it is taking place at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, one of two venues in the Ivory Coast’s largest city.

This stadium is named after the country’s president, Alassane Outtara.

Four other venues will also be used – in Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and San Pedro.

The Allassane Outtara Olympic Stadium already looks to be packed with the opening ceremony currently taking place.

Starting today, the four-week tournament will run all the way through until the final on February 11.

This year’s AFCON is taking place in the Ivory Coast, with the hosts one of the strong favourites to lift the trophy.

24 teams are competing across six groups of four, with the top two in each group, plus the four best-ranked third-placed teams progressing to the knockout stages.

Senegal are the reigning champions after beating Egypt on penalties in the final two years ago.

It promises to be a cracking event and Mail Sport has got you covered.

After months of anticipation, AFCON is finally upon us.

We’ll be bringing you all the build-up, team news and live coverage from the first game of the tournament that sees hosts Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau.

You don’t want to miss it!