The Elephants suffered a 2-1 loss to one of the tournament favourites in a tightly contested Group E match, conceding a late goal after pushing Germany throughout the encounter.

The result leaves Côte d’Ivoire with work to do in their final group match against Curaçao, where a positive result will be crucial to securing qualification.

Manchester United winger Amad Diallo acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents but maintained that the team remains confident. “It was a really difficult game, we knew it was going to be hard,” Diallo said.

Diallo said Germany’s quality and ability to produce decisive moments proved the difference. “They have players that can make a difference at any point,” Diallo said.

Despite the defeat, Diallo said the team will take lessons from the performance as they prepare for their final group fixture. “We are going to learn from this and we can still go through to the next round,” Diallo said.

Côte d’Ivoire had entered the match with momentum following an opening victory over Ecuador, which positioned them strongly in the group standings.

The clash with Germany tested their defensive discipline and attacking sharpness, with the African side showing resilience but ultimately falling short.

The upcoming match against Curaçao now represents a defining moment in their campaign, with qualification implications depending on both their performance and other group results.

–SABCSport/ChannelAfrica–