2026 World Cup: Ivory Coast shocks Ecuador in last-minute Group E match


Ivory Coast kicked off the 2026 World Cup with an incredible win, beating Ecuador 1-0 thanks to a late goal in the final minutes. Ecuador, considered one of the outsiders of the tournament, was unable to beat the opponent, who controlled the game, especially in the second half. The Elephants had a significant percentage of the ball and finished the match with a high number of shots, including shots on target. The Ecuadorian attack proved ineffective and the team did not record a single shot on target until midway through the second half. While Ivory Coast continued to attack, a goal was finally scored in the 90th minute. Second half substitute Amad Diallo, assisted by Wilfried Singo, fired the ball into the net. However, it wasn't just Diallo who was the star of the match: the crossbar also played a major role in denying three goals - two for Ecuador and one for Ivory Coast - which kept things balanced until Diallo was able to shoot over. It was a landmark victory for Ivory Coast, which had never progressed beyond the group stage at a World Cup. The winning goal will certainly have no impact on Germany's Group E side, who recorded a thumping 7-1 win over Curacao earlier on Sunday, but sets the stage for the Elephants to perhaps make the knockout stage for the first time. Meanwhile, it is a difficult start for Ecuador as the team came into the World Cup with high hopes. La Tri's defensive line was key to their preparation for the tournament, but it faltered at the last moment on Sunday. While Ecuador's next test against Curacao shouldn't be too difficult, the final group stage match against Germany could prove crucial for La Tri.

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