“We’ve come here to make history,” said Amad Diallo after Ivory Coast’s victory over Ecuador

Scorer of the Elephants’ winning goal in their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Ivorian striker reiterated the ambitions of the Ivorian squad.

The Ivory Coast team got their World Cup campaign, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, off to a perfect start. The Elephants kicked off the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Ecuador on 15 June.

The match’s sole goalscorer, Amad Diallo, highlighted the spirit driving Emerse Fae’s squad. For the Ivorian winger, this generation does not simply want to take part in the tournament; it wants to leave a lasting mark on the history of Ivorian football.

“We’ve come here to make history. It’s the first competition for every one of us. Since the match against France, we knew we were mentally prepared. We’re very happy with this victory! But there are still two matches to go and it doesn’t stop here.”

Ivory Coast’s next match will be against Germany on 20 June. The Ivorians will then face Curaçao on 25 June to conclude the group stage.