Ivory Coast defeat France to secure historic first-ever victory ahead of World Cup 2026

Ivory Coast recorded a famous 2-1 comeback win over France in an international friendly on Thursday, claiming their first-ever victory against the two-time FIFA World Cup champions and sending a strong message ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The match, played in Nantes, served as one of France's final preparations before travelling to North America for the expanded 48-team tournament. Despite dominating much of the first half, Didier Deschamps' side failed to capitalise on several opportunities and were ultimately punished by a resilient Ivorian team.

France captain Kylian Mbappé nearly opened the scoring early in the contest as he chased Olivier Giroud's all-time goalscoring record for Les Bleus. However, Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana produced an excellent save to deny the Real Madrid superstar.

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The hosts continued to control possession and create chances through Adrien Rabiot and Michael Olise, while Ivory Coast looked dangerous on the counterattack, with Simon Adingra forcing Mike Maignan into action.

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France eventually took the lead moments before halftime when Rayan Cherki produced a brilliant solo effort, weaving through defenders before calmly slotting the ball past Fofana.

The Elephants responded superbly after the restart. Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pépé made an instant impact from the bench, providing the assist for Guéla Doué to equalise in the 53rd minute.

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With momentum firmly on their side, Ivory Coast completed a stunning turnaround in the 84th minute. Doué turned provider again, setting up Manchester United star Amad Diallo, who fired home a clinical first-time finish to seal a memorable victory.

The result is a major boost for coach Emerse Faé and his squad as they continue their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026, while France will seek an immediate response in their final warm-up match against Northern Ireland.