Manchester United player Amad Diallo is on international duty with Ivory Coast for the AFCON. His absence has already impacted United, as they lost an important game against Aston Villa. The defeat against Unai Emery’s team has dropped United to seventh place in the Premier League. Despite this, Amad has maintained his excellent form, playing an incredible game for Ivory Coast. He helped the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions secure their first win of the tournament against Mozambique. It will be interesting to see how Amad performs in their upcoming fixtures.
Impact of Amad Diallo for Ivory Coast
Amad is having a wonderful season for the Red Devils. United’s coach, Ruben Amorim, seems to have tremendous trust in the Ivory Coast international. Amad Diallo has played a key role in Manchester United’s recent success in the Premier League. However, the player’s departure for the AFCON interrupted United’s recent momentum.
The current AFCON champions faced Mozambique in their first match. Mozambique is currently ranked 102nd in the FIFA rankings, and Ivory Coast were expected to win easily. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned for the defending champions. As expected, Amad’s team dominated possession from the very first minute. Emerse Fae’s side controlled the ball in the first half, but despite their efforts, they failed to score against the 102nd-ranked team. Ivory Coast fans expressed their frustration, which was clearly visible during the halftime interval.
A tactical change paid off early in the second half. It took just four minutes for Ivory Coast to score their first goal of the tournament. Their right-back delivered a teasing cross into the box to Kessie, who guided it to Amad’s feet. The completely unmarked player easily scored, securing the team’s first win.
Reasons Amad and his Ivory Coast’s hard fought win
Although the defending champions won their first game thanks to Amad Diallo, it was not in the way they had expected. Fans were anticipating an easy victory for Ivory Coast, but their celebration was cut short by the opposition’s goalkeeper, Ernan. Ernan was in top form, making several crucial saves against Ivory Coast. “Ernan impressively stopped all 15 shots taken by the defending champions.
Another issue for Emerse’s team was their composure inside the box. They created many big chances throughout the 90 minutes but failed to convert them. While their front line has immense quality, they need to improve their finishing. If managed perfectly, the trio of Zaha, Amad Diallo, and Yan Diomande could thrive and have the potential to lift the AFCON once again.
Ivory Coast’s next match is against Cameroon, where Amad will face his club teammate, Bryan Mbeumo. Emerse and his men have a challenging task ahead, as Pagou’s team will be looking for back-to-back wins.
Fan’s reaction
Both United and Ivory Coast fans are happy, but for very different reasons. Ivory Coast supporters are relieved to see their team secure their first victory of the tournament and feel confident that the squad will make a strong approach against Cameroon. On the other hand, Amad’s strong form has pleased United fans. He has been a crucial player for their club, and they hope he returns to Old Trafford in top form. They are optimistic that Amad will come back to United at his peak.
Author’s insight
From the author’s point of view, Amad’s goal has provided a big boost to United fans. On the other hand, Ivory Coast are the favorites to win the AFCON, and they will need to take a strong approach against Cameroon.
As featured on ManUNews.com
