Côte d’Ivoire head coach Hervé Renard brushed aside discussions surrounding his side’s 2-0 victory over Ghana in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, insisting the result was all that mattered.
The Elephants claimed all three points in Bouaké thanks to goals from Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié, despite Ghana missing several key players.
Renard noted that Côte d’Ivoire also had important absentees and refused to focus on injuries or the penalty decision that contributed to the victory.
“We were missing five or six players too. The penalty, the absences, there are always excuses. We won the game, and that’s what counts,” he said.
The Frenchman admitted his team did not produce a flawless display, citing the challenging pitch conditions, but was pleased with the outcome.
“The performance was not perfect, especially on a difficult surface, but the most important thing is that my players secured the win,” Renard added.
The victory gives Côte d’Ivoire an early advantage in Group C, while Ghana will seek a response against The Gambia in their next qualifier.
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