rewrite this title Ivory Coast v Mozambique live: Afcon 2025 updates

Mexer with a brilliant sliding block of a cross for a corner. A possible goal-saving block. Ivory Coast go short from the corner but get nowhere and the attack peters out.

That should be 2-0 Ivory Coast. What a chance!

It’s Franck Kessie again – he should have done better with a header at the end of the first half but this opportunity is even more glaring.

It’s great work by Konan down the left, he picks out a sumptuous cross, Kessie heads the ball down at goal from 10 yards out but it bounces narrowly wide of the post. Ernani was nowhere, hit the target and it’s a goal.

Here’s the moment Amad Diallo broke the deadlock. It’s what separates the sides currently.

The rain is absolutely hammering down in Morocco now. We’ve got some Sunderland on Man United beef as Reinildo clatters through goalscorer Diallo and gets booked for his troubles.

He protests but that was a clear yellow.

That goal will surely relax Ivory Coast now. They deserve it, given the dominance. They’re straight back on the attack and Zaha gets to the byline before having his cross blocked for a corner.

Mozambique scramble it away. The Mambas will have to come out of their shell a little bit now they’re a goal down.

And there’s the breakthrough for the reigning champions.

Kessie gets up well in the box and nods the ball down where Amad Diallo comes rushing on to it, strikes it first time with his instep, through the legs of Reinildo and into the far corner.

Classy finish from the Man United man and Ivory Coast have the lead. A perfect start to the second half.

Back underway for the second half

And that’s half-time in Marrakech. The reigning Afcon champions Ivory Coast have dominated Mozambique but the Mambas have been stubborn in defence and held firm.

There’s 45 minutes left for the Elephants to find a goal and open their title defence with a win

Doue’s cross is headed behind by Calila, who had more time than he thought but didn’t get the call. Zaha puts the corner into the box but Ernani is off his line to punch clear well.

Ivory Coast work the ball back to the byline, the cross is stood up by Kossounou and Ernani makes a complete mess of it, fumbling it straight out to Kessie who heads back at goal but Ernani redeems himself to get back across and make the save, catching the ball.

A huge moment of relief for the Mozambique keeper there and he got a bit lucky.

Zaha turns his man, cuts inside and rides a couple of challenges on the edge of the box but is eventually crowded out. Ivory Coast are completely dominant now but haven’t made the breakthrough yet