JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia secured a deserved 1–0 victory over Ivory Coast in Jeddah on Friday, with an early strike from Saleh Aboulshamat proving decisive at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Ivory Coast endured a disappointing evening in Jeddah. Emerse Faé’s team conceded early, as Saleh Aboulshamat struck in the 8th minute, and the Elephants never found a way back into the match.
Despite expectations of a lively encounter, the Ivorians struggled to create danger and lacked sharpness in key moments.
The arrivals of Guéla Doué, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Sébastien Haller, Amad Diallo, and Yan Diomandé brought fresh energy but failed to shift the momentum. Set up in a 4-4-2, the Elephants couldn’t penetrate Saudi Arabia’s disciplined 4-3-3 structure.
Ivory Coast now turn their focus to Tuesday’s match against Oman, hoping to deliver a stronger performance and bounce back from this disappointing result.
