African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 FIFA WorldCup 2026.

[Odusko]

Ivory Coast take on France tonight in the WC friendlies. I know many of us here are not interested in the friendlies; they want the real deal, which is for the World Cup to start. However, the African teams in the WC have shown that it wont gonna be easy for European nations to defeat them easily. Ivory Coast defeated France with 2 goals to 1. Desire Doué's elder brother scored the equalizing goal for Ivory Coast. Two brothers from the same parents but different nationalities. Ryan Cherki had a brilliant performance overall. And lastly, Amad Diallo, who had only scored 2 goals for Manchester United this season, scored the winner for Ivory Coast.

Congratulations to Ivory Coast for making history tonight with their first defeat over France. friendlies like this are part of preparations for the main event it's important we pay attention to watch the games to evaluate the performance of the teams we will be seeing in the world cup. A lot of people are not really happy because Nigeria didn't make it to the world cup but it is necessary for us to support other African countries and follow them up because they are our representatives in the world cup. I got my eyes on Ryan Cherki the City boy, Amad Diallo the magic man was superb in his winning goal and to Desire Doué's family, they are blessed with good talents.

This is a critical moment in the run up to the main events, pre league's friendlies is a place where team teste their level of preparation and how to approach they opponents, this is a big time not to celebrate the winnings but testing th level of the team readiness, let hope all the African teams line up display incredible performance like Ivory Coast.

[Spaceman1000$]

Yeah, so African teams have been able to put up some quality games this night, I saw the game between Ivory Coast vs France, it showed  that African have a contending team that could stand toe toe with France. It might look as though the game was just a friendly game but it is from buildups like this that you would know opponents that are ready to confront any team in the World cup, and Ivory Coast have showed that they can take on any team by surprise, because a 2-1 victory against a country like France doesn't come cheap, it shows that you are made of matria stronger than leather.

This is laughable, just because Ivory Coast won France in an international friendly match does not mean that if both teams meet in a real tournament that Ivory Coast will be able to defeat France. I think that France players were just being careful so that they don't get injured before the official start of the world Cup matches, which is why they slowed down their gameplay after they won at halftime. Don't get me wrong, it's not as if the African teams won't put up a strong fight in the world Cup but let's not begin to judge their possible performance in the world Cup just because of a pre world Cup international friendly match. Ivory Coast is a strong team as we know, of course they are likely to do well at the world Cup tournament.

So you believe if France had the opportunity to score more goals, they won't have scored, of course they would have scored more than just one. France played all the major players they would use for the World cup, so there was no excuse for them not to win the game against Ivory Coast. Besides Ivory Coast when it comes to football is also a strong side, so regardless of how you want to see it, if it was a major tournament this might probably be the results as well. However the idea of looking down on some countries when it comes to football has gradually been eroded as most of the underdog countries have very solidified players that could take on any opponent.

[Davidvictorson]

That was a friendly game and France is using such games to test the readiness of their squad , I will not take this types of games seriously this is not the true reflection of the strength of these two teams. We all know France and the type of players that plays for the France national team. France used a very weak team and was majorly experimenting to see how effective their team can feature going into the world cup.

You are correct. I don’t even understand the sense in all of these friendly matches if they are testing their readiness why not use your team A. The second team you are using to play this friendly games, most of them will not even play in the World Cup matches.
Anyways, those who will benefit from this the gamblers who will bet on these games and catch out before the main tournament will begin.

[Mayor of ogba]

It happened like that because it was a friendly match if not, I don't think that Ivory Coast will be able to win France. I don't use the results from a friendly game to judge the performance of a team in the world cup because it's a different ball game entirely.

I enjoyed the match amd I am happy towards the impressive performance of Ivory Coast, I hope they can play like this in the world cup and win big nations.

At first I thought since it was just friendly match that was the reason why Ivory Coast was able to defeat France but after I watched the highlights of the match and I saw how serious France was against Ivory Coast and the chances they missed because they weren't clinical enough I believe Ivory Coast didn't only defeat France because it was a friendly match. Ivory coast defeated France yesterday because they were clinical than France, and the same thing could be applicable if both teams meet in the World Cup.

[Silikiem]

Ivory Coast take on France tonight in the WC friendlies. I know many of us here are not interested in the friendlies; they want the real deal, which is for the World Cup to start. However, the African teams in the WC have shown that it wont gonna be easy for European nations to defeat them easily. Ivory Coast defeated France with 2 goals to 1. Desire Doué's elder brother scored the equalizing goal for Ivory Coast. Two brothers from the same parents but different nationalities. Ryan Cherki had a brilliant performance overall. And lastly, Amad Diallo, who had only scored 2 goals for Manchester United this season, scored the winner for Ivory Coast.

Congratulations to Ivory Coast for making history tonight with their first defeat over France. friendlies like this are part of preparations for the main event it's important we pay attention to watch the games to evaluate the performance of the teams we will be seeing in the world cup. A lot of people are not really happy because Nigeria didn't make it to the world cup but it is necessary for us to support other African countries and follow them up because they are our representatives in the world cup. I got my eyes on Ryan Cherki the City boy, Amad Diallo the magic man was superb in his winning goal and to Desire Doué's family, they are blessed with good talents.

This is a critical moment in the run up to the main events, pre league's friendlies is a place where team teste their level of preparation and how to approach they opponents, this is a big time not to celebrate the winnings but testing th level of the team readiness, let hope all the African teams line up display incredible performance like Ivory Coast.

It seems so far the African teams going to the World Cup are really doing well in their respective friendly games as they prepare for the main World Cup event, seeing Algeria win against the Netherlands 1 Nil and Ivory Coast winning another European giants France 2:1. Its really impressive even though these are just friendly matches where most of this teams looks out to try out new things before the main event but I wish the African teams can replicate the same form they are showing now during the major tournament.

[Amphenomenon]

You are correct. I don’t even understand the sense in all of these friendly matches if they are testing their readiness why not use your team A. The second team you are using to play this friendly games, most of them will not even play in the World Cup matches.
Anyways, those who will benefit from this the gamblers who will bet on these games and catch out before the main tournament will begin.

The fact is they don't have to use their key players but rather rest them because of the number of games they have played until now.

All players used might not have an opportunity during the world Cup but those who did exceptionally well or fair enough are going to have game time during players rotation.

[KingsDen]

That was a friendly game and France is using such games to test the readiness of their squad , I will not take this types of games seriously this is not the true reflection of the strength of these two teams. We all know France and the type of players that plays for the France national team. France used a very weak team and was majorly experimenting to see how effective their team can feature going into the world cup.

You are correct. I don’t even understand the sense in all of these friendly matches if they are testing their readiness why not use your team A. The second team you are using to play this friendly games, most of them will not even play in the World Cup matches.
Anyways, those who will benefit from this the gamblers who will bet on these games and catch out before the main tournament will begin.

Friendly games before major tournaments serve as warmup games for the players and as such, you don't expect them to give their best when they know they'll be sent back home and be replaced of they pick injury. Ivory Coast won because France players didn't approach the game with the mindset that they must win. Even with the reserve team their current squad, France will still beat Ivory Coast should both teams meet in the World Cup

[Callido]

It seems so far the African teams going to the World Cup are really doing well in their respective friendly games as they prepare for the main World Cup event, seeing Algeria win against the Netherlands 1 Nil and Ivory Coast winning another European giants France 2:1. Its really impressive even though these are just friendly matches where most of this teams looks out to try out new things before the main event but I wish the African teams can replicate the same form they are showing now during the major tournament.

This is a friendly game, France lost because they didn't take the game very serious, some players were rested for the big event, some were given minutes to test themselves, the match wasn't something to die for, all the players are protecting themselves from sustaining injuries before the World Cup begins.

We will have more to say when the World Cup begins, i'm praying that our African countries will dominate in their various groups, we had enough countries make it into the World Cup, too bad if majority of us will be knocked out early, i pray we win.

[Adiljutt156]

Ivory Coast take on France tonight in the WC friendlies. I know many of us here are not interested in the friendlies; they want the real deal, which is for the World Cup to start. However, the African teams in the WC have shown that it wont gonna be easy for European nations to defeat them easily. Ivory Coast defeated France with 2 goals to 1. Desire Doué's elder brother scored the equalizing goal for Ivory Coast. Two brothers from the same parents but different nationalities. Ryan Cherki had a brilliant performance overall. And lastly, Amad Diallo, who had only scored 2 goals for Manchester United this season, scored the winner for Ivory Coast.

Both teams are of same standard but Ivory Coast national football team won the match due to their excellent strategy in this match. The overall performance of that team was great in this match because both teams gave their excellent effort and tried to give their best to win this game . Diallo did last goal of the match and he did this goal at 84 minutes and there could be end of the match with draw result.The players of Ivory Coast national football team are in form and their fitness is at top because they are doing exercise daily and they are maintaining their strong and they are part of the team. Goalkeeper tried to give his best and Ivory Coast national football team is happy with their result.

[Agbamoni]

Both teams are of same standard but Ivory Coast national football team won the match due to their excellent strategy in this match. The overall performance of that team was great in this match because both teams gave their excellent effort and tried to give their best to win this game . Diallo did last goal of the match and he did this goal at 84 minutes and there could be end of the match with draw result.The players of Ivory Coast national football team are in form and their fitness is at top because they are doing exercise daily and they are maintaining their strong and they are part of the team. Goalkeeper tried to give his best and Ivory Coast national football team is happy with their result.

That's a huge lie. France is a better team than Ivory Coast. France didn't start their best players on the pitch. The coach was obviously trying out new things because it is a friendly match.

On a good day in the World Cup, if Ivory Coast eventually meets France in the elimination stage, it is over for them.

[Tonimez]

Both teams are of same standard but Ivory Coast national football team won the match due to their excellent strategy in this match. The overall performance of that team was great in this match because both teams gave their excellent effort and tried to give their best to win this game . Diallo did last goal of the match and he did this goal at 84 minutes and there could be end of the match with draw result.The players of Ivory Coast national football team are in form and their fitness is at top because they are doing exercise daily and they are maintaining their strong and they are part of the team. Goalkeeper tried to give his best and Ivory Coast national football team is happy with their result.

That's a huge lie. France is a better team than Ivory Coast. France didn't start their best players on the pitch. The coach was obviously trying out new things because it is a friendly match.

On a good day in the World Cup, if Ivory Coast eventually meets France in the elimination stage, it is over for them.

I'm shocked to read that Ivory coast now has a better team than France, like wtf. On a good day, if France catch Ivory coast, it's going to be a bad day for them because France will score countless number of goals against them. Ivory coast is lucky to be in group E with Ecuador, Germany and Curacao because they stand a chance to qualify alongside with Germany. Didier Deschamps was definitely testing his squads and started his game with his weaker legs. Being one of the longest National team coaches in history, I'm sure he will be taking this world cup very seriously. He is a very experienced coach and also a world cup winner both as a player and as a coach. France could finish their group with 9 points and proceed to the next round too.

[Finebone]

Both teams are of same standard but Ivory Coast national football team won the match due to their excellent strategy in this match.

That's a huge lie. France is a better team than Ivory Coast. France didn't start their best players on the pitch. The coach was obviously trying out new things because it is a friendly match.

On a good day in the World Cup, if Ivory Coast eventually meets France in the elimination stage, it is over for them.

I agree with you that France is a more better and stronger team to Ivory Coast, and we shouldn't be using a mere friendly game that is mostly for experiments to judge them. It's true that among top european team, France is one nation that always loses to an African side, but am not going to pay too much attention to that because if it was a world cup game as you have said, none of us here , will confidently gamble on ivory coast to win, even though France are going to rest most of their first team players. So this is not what we should be arguing on in the first place.

[Agbe]

I'm shocked to read that Ivory coast now has a better team than France, like wtf. On a good day, if France catch Ivory coast, it's going to be a bad day for them because France will score countless number of goals against them.

I was surprised to read this post and this made me to check the match and I didn't believed what I saw. Ivory Coast beat France 2-1. Let's remove the mindset that this a friendlies matches but there is strong message that has been passed. If Ivory Coast beat France in this pre world cup friendlies matches, they can still be at therm in the main tournament. Yes because if you are saying France will beat them black and blue, Ivory Coast will double their performance in the tournament and do well. Though let see what will happen in the WC.

[CryptSafe]

the fact a

Friendly games before major tournaments serve as warmup games for the players and as such, you don't expect them to give their best when they know they'll be sent back home and be replaced of they pick injury. Ivory Coast won because France players didn't approach the game with the mindset that they must win. Even with the reserve team their current squad, France will still beat Ivory Coast should both teams meet in the World Cup

I agree with your view here. Since it is just pre world cup friendlies, most of the big teams would not stress themselves that much because they know anything can happen which could affect their player's so it would be in the best interest of the player's to maintain neutrality on a level play so they do not get injured also to take out time to study the play styles and patterns of their opponents if they are likely playing against each other the tournament so they could know how to tackle each other and know how to go about their game.

[GiftedMAN]

I'm shocked to read that Ivory coast now has a better team than France, like wtf. On a good day, if France catch Ivory coast, it's going to be a bad day for them because France will score countless number of goals against them.

I was surprised to read this post and this made me to check the match and I didn't believed what I saw. Ivory Coast beat France 2-1. Let's remove the mindset that this a friendlies matches but there is strong message that has been passed. If Ivory Coast beat France in this pre world cup friendlies matches, they can still be at therm in the main tournament. Yes because if you are saying France will beat them black and blue, Ivory Coast will double their performance in the tournament and do well. Though let see what will happen in the WC.

As an African team, I'll like to see Ivory Coast have a memorable FIFA World Cup campaign but that shouldn't make me not to stick to reality. Yes, they defeated the 3rd ranked team in the world but it was in a friendly game. I don't see anything too special about that result and that's because I know France will beat them if it was a competitive match. I'm not taking anything away from Ivory Coast but if they really send a strong message to the rest of world about their preparation to compete for this year's World Cup tournament, I'll love ti see it happen in reality.

[letteredhub]

Ivory Coast take on France tonight in the WC friendlies. I know many of us here are not interested in the friendlies; they want the real deal, which is for the World Cup to start. However, the African teams in the WC have shown that it wont gonna be easy for European nations to defeat them easily. Ivory Coast defeated France with 2 goals to 1. Desire Doué's elder brother scored the equalizing goal for Ivory Coast. Two brothers from the same parents but different nationalities. Ryan Cherki had a brilliant performance overall. And lastly, Amad Diallo, who had only scored 2 goals for Manchester United this season, scored the winner for Ivory Coast.

Congratulations to Ivory Coast for making history tonight with their first defeat over France. friendlies like this are part of preparations for the main event it's important we pay attention to watch the games to evaluate the performance of the teams we will be seeing in the world cup. A lot of people are not really happy because Nigeria didn't make it to the world cup but it is necessary for us to support other African countries and follow them up because they are our representatives in the world cup. I got my eyes on Ryan Cherki the City boy, Amad Diallo the magic man was superb in his winning goal and to Desire Doué's family, they are blessed with good talents.

This is a critical moment in the run up to the main events, pre league's friendlies is a place where team teste their level of preparation and how to approach they opponents, this is a big time not to celebrate the winnings but testing th level of the team readiness, let hope all the African teams line up display incredible performance like Ivory Coast.

France losing to Ivory Coast doesn't make them not fully geared up and prepared for the World Cup and I don't believe that this is a test for how well prepared they're for the WC. Nevertheless, it's a good win for Ivory Coast, a huge motivation from them as we're just few days into the tournament. I think I would be supporting this Ivory side since Nigeria disappointed us by not qualifying.

[Doan9269]

I'm shocked to read that Ivory coast now has a better team than France, like wtf. On a good day, if France catch Ivory coast, it's going to be a bad day for them because France will score countless number of goals against them.

I was surprised to read this post and this made me to check the match and I didn't believed what I saw. Ivory Coast beat France 2-1. Let's remove the mindset that this a friendlies matches but there is strong message that has been passed. If Ivory Coast beat France in this pre world cup friendlies matches, they can still be at therm in the main tournament. Yes because if you are saying France will beat them black and blue, Ivory Coast will double their performance in the tournament and do well. Though let see what will happen in the WC.

I also got surprised when I saw this, but I don't know maybe all these are happening because the already knew it was only just a friendly match, but I don't expect it still yet, Ivory Coast is nowhere to be found where France is, I'm sure maybe France does not take this match serious or use their first 11, but if you're going to look at it as well in terms of football games, anything is born to happen, that Ivory Coast is not that good yesterday does not mean they can't do better today, it's only a survival of the fittest as long as they are able to get along with their coordination and play well to deserve a winning.

[Promocodeudo]

France losing to Ivory Coast doesn't make them not fully geared up and prepared for the World Cup and I don't believe that this is a test for how well prepared they're for the WC. Nevertheless, it's a good win for Ivory Coast, a huge motivation from them as we're just few days into the tournament. I think I would be supporting this Ivory side since Nigeria disappointed us by not qualifying.

Support whoever you want to mate but since it is not your country national team,  don't put too much mind, as for the winning Ivory Coast had against France, I still see it as just friendly match that should not be seen as anything, there shouldn't be any motivation in that rather they should go and get more prepared for what is ahead of them because I don't think if they meet france in the world cup they will survive it, we should be reminded that France will not play Ivory coast the in the world cup the same way they did in the friendly match since they know that something is involved in the competition.

[Oluwa-btc]

Ragebait, and it worked. This is why I love football 

Cm'n mate! Cheer up. The season is over. But we can't deny the fact that his records for last season still remains intact and history will remind him when he gets old. That in the same year, he critisize a team for using corners to score, which apparently is part of football, is the same season he flopped massively. He is a player without shame. How will he be feeling now, that the teamhe critisized won the club. Uh, Amad, stay humble. I do not know why the least of them all are the ones who make the loudest noise.

  Bullshit!!

He flopped?! He was still in his bag but didn't get the goals coming and that's what you call flop?! You talk as if he will never win the Premier League Competition,  it is funny of you to downgrade this particular Manchester United side, your only luck was that Carrick came in late as the coach of Manchester United.
No, you Arsenal delusional fans should rather be humbled  
He is a good player, if all goes well for Manchester United we could win the Premier League this coming season or the next!

[abaeze]

I'm shocked to read that Ivory coast now has a better team than France, like wtf. On a good day, if France catch Ivory coast, it's going to be a bad day for them because France will score countless number of goals against them.

I was surprised to read this post and this made me to check the match and I didn't believed what I saw. Ivory Coast beat France 2-1. Let's remove the mindset that this a friendlies matches but there is strong message that has been passed. If Ivory Coast beat France in this pre world cup friendlies matches, they can still be at therm in the main tournament. Yes because if you are saying France will beat them black and blue, Ivory Coast will double their performance in the tournament and do well. Though let see what will happen in the WC.

Just as it is not right to draw big conclusions about the performance of the World Cup based on the results of a friendly match, Ivory Coast proved by defeating France that they are not a weak team and they cannot be taken lightly. Because on the biggest stage of competition such as the World Cup, no team will take it easy on another and every country will step onto the field with its strongest possible squad and maximum effort. Also, since Ivory Coast has completed the qualifying stage and made it to the main stage of the World Cup, it is never right to consider them a weak team. Here, any team can beat any other strong team in the ranking. So it will be right to judge by looking at the performance on the field.