Côte d’Ivoire winger Amad Diallo was named TotalEnergies AFCON Man of the Match in a post shared on their official X account after scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Mozambique to open the defending champions’ AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco.
The Manchester United attacker made the difference in a tight Group F encounter, continuing the momentum that followed his departure for international duty, as previously reported by SoftFootball, while confirming Amad Diallo’s AFCON exit alongside Bryan Mbeumo. For Ivory Coast, it was not an easy night, but it was the perfect start.
The breakthrough came in the 68th minute, when Diallo delivered a calm, curling finish to finally unlock a stubborn Mozambique defence. Côte d’Ivoire dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge until his intervention, a pattern that has defined several AFCON openers.
Group F is shaping up to be competitive, with Cameroon’s opening game coming up against Gabon, setting up an early battle for supremacy with the Elephants.
Mozambique deserve credit for their organisation and resilience. They defended deep, closed spaces quickly and forced Ivory Coast into speculative efforts for long periods.
Their goalkeeper produced a confident display, keeping the scoreline level until Diallo’s moment of quality shifted the balance. It was a reminder that tournament football often hinges on patience and individual brilliance rather than dominance alone.
For Diallo, the goal underlined his rapid rise. At 23, and with limited senior international caps, he showed composure well beyond his experience. His AFCON form follows a strong end to his club duties.
Diallo was on the scoresheet in Manchester United’s dramatic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth before heading to the tournament, a game SoftFootball described as one of the season’s most chaotic encounters. Since leaving England, he has carried that confidence onto the international stage.
Diallo did not feature in United’s recent 2-1 loss to Aston Villa due to his AFCON involvement, another point noted in SoftFootball’s coverage. For Côte d’Ivoire, however, his impact has been immediate.
With three points secured, attention now turns to the looming clash with Cameroon. If this opener is any indication, Diallo is ready to play a defining role in Ivory Coast’s title defence, delivering when his team needed him most.
