Manchester United winger Amad Diallo scored a dramatic late winner as Ivory Coast secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ecuador in their opening Group E match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia.
The substitute struck in the 90th minute, calmly guiding the ball into the bottom corner after a powerful run and assist from defender Wilfried Singo, handing the Elephants a crucial three points.
The victory ended Ecuador’s impressive 19-match unbeaten run, which had stretched for nearly two years, and boosted Ivory Coast’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Amad’s omission from the starting lineup came as a surprise, but the winger made an immediate impact after being introduced in the second half.
The match was closely contested, with Ecuador creating several dangerous opportunities. John Yeboah and Alan Minda both struck the crossbar in the first half, while veteran striker Enner Valencia hit the post from a tight angle after the break.
Ivory Coast also came close to opening the scoring when Nice forward Elye Wahi rattled the crossbar early in the second half.
Despite Ecuador’s attacking pressure, they struggled to test goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, registering their first shot on target only in the 68th minute when Gonzalo Plata forced a save from the Ivorian shot-stopper.
Ivory Coast, meanwhile, remained patient and eventually found the breakthrough in the dying moments through Amad’s clinical finish.
The goal continued the winger’s strong form for his national team after a challenging second half of the season at Manchester United.
Amad had already scored the winner in Ivory Coast’s 2-1 friendly victory over France earlier this month and once again delivered when his country needed him most.
The result places Ivory Coast in a strong position in Group E, which also includes Germany and Curacao.
Speaking after the match, Amad said the team remains focused on making history.
“We came here to make history. We still have two more matches ahead of us, and we need to approach them with the same mentality and try to win them,” he said.
Ivory Coast will next face Germany before concluding their group campaign against Curacao, knowing that another victory could secure a historic place in the World Cup knockout rounds.
