World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast Edge Ecuador 1-0 With Diallo’s Last-Gasp Winner

Substitute Amad Diallo emerged the hero for Ivory Coast after scoring a dramatic 90th-minute winner to hand the Elephants a hard-fought victory over Ecuador in their opening Group E match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia.

The Manchester United winger, surprisingly left out of the starting lineup, made an immediate impact after his introduction, producing a moment of quality when it mattered most.

With the match seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Wilfried Singo surged forward on a powerful run before finding Diallo inside the box. The winger calmly opened up his body and guided a precise left-footed finish into the corner to seal victory.

The goal brought an end to Ecuador’s remarkable 19-match unbeaten run, which had stretched for almost two years under manager Sebastian Beccacece.

Despite the defeat, Ecuador came close on several occasions. John Yeboah and Alan Minda both struck the crossbar in the first half, while veteran striker Enner Valencia hit the post from a difficult angle after the interval.

Ivory Coast also threatened, with Nice forward Elye Wahi rattling the crossbar early in the second half.

Although Ecuador controlled periods of the contest, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, registering their first shot on target only in the 68th minute when Gonzalo Plata forced goalkeeper Yahia Fofana into action.

The Ivorians remained disciplined defensively and continued to search for openings, eventually finding the breakthrough through Diallo’s late intervention.

The result gives Ivory Coast a significant advantage in Group E, which also features Germany and World Cup debutants Curacao.

It also strengthens the West Africans hopes of progressing to the knockout stages for the first time in their World Cup history after returning to the tournament for the first time in 12 years.