A week before the 2026 World Cup, Ivory Coast pulled off a major upset, beating France 2-1 in a friendly in Nantes on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The reigning African champions delivered a real statement.
Things had started well for Les Bleus. Right before half-time (45′), Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki lit up the Beaujoire with a moment of magic — a double touch to leave Franck Kessié for dead before slotting past Yahia Fofana. But the Elephants refused to fold. Just after the break (53′), Guéla Doué, teed up by Nicolas Pépé, calmly levelled things up. Then, late on, Amad Diallo met another pinpoint cross from Doué with a half-volley to seal a famous 2-1 win for Emerse Faé’s side.
It’s a powerful signal. Seven days before kicking off their 2026 World Cup campaign — hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada — Amad Diallo and his teammates have shown they can trouble the very best. Back at the World Cup after a 12-year absence, the 2024 African champions face Ecuador, Germany and Curaçao in the group stage. From Abidjan to Nantes, beating a world-football heavyweight will live long in the memory. As for France, they must respond quickly: Didier Deschamps’ men travel to Lille on Monday to face Northern Ireland.