Ivory Coast got things off at the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding 6-1 win over Central African Republic in Group D on Tuesday night, Afrosport reports.
The Young Elephants were eager to make a statement and clearly did with Alynho Haidara scoring first in the fourth minute before doubling it nine minutes later.
Mobio Koidio made it 3-0 in the 21st minute before Central African Republic were reduced to 10 men when Jovani Guidat-Henzo was shown a straight red card in the 31st minute.
Haidara got his hat-trick from the penalty spot four minutes to the end of the first half while Anan Otto got the consolation goal for the Central Africans.
Still in the mood for more goals in the second half, Ivory Coast were 5-1 up in the 55th minute with Haidara scoring for the fourth time in the game.
Yannis Touali had the last say in the 88th minute.
Today’s #TotalEnergiesAFCONU17 results for you.
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— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) April 1, 2025
In the other Group D game, Mali got the better of Angola with a 2-1 win while in Group C, Senegal defeated neighbours The Gambia 1-0 and Tunisia thumped Somalia 3-0.