Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored as Ivory Coast began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique in Marrakesh on Wednesday.
Diallo struck after 49 minutes of a Group F match the three-time champions dominated against opponents 60 places lower in the world rankings.
Ivory Coast, who will face Cameroon and Gabon in their other group matches, are aiming to become the first nation since Egypt in 2010 to successfully defend the premier African football title.
Defeat prolonged Mozambican dreams of an AFCON victory — they have drawn four matches and lost 12 since their 1986 debut.
Winger Elias ‘Domingues’ Pelembe came off the Mozambique bench on 67 minutes at the age of 42, making him the second oldest player to compete at an AFCON after 44-year-old Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.
Ivorian teen Yan Diomande was the first to threaten, dribbling past several opponents before slipping in the box when poised to shoot.
There was immediate alarm for the title-holders as the 19-year-old, who scored a Bundesliga hat-trick for RB Leipzig this month, fell awkwardly and needed medical treatment
