Cameroon defeats Côte d'Ivoire 1-0 in Ebimpé friendly

Cameroon defeated Côte d'Ivoire 1-0 in an international friendly match held on October 3, 2026, at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpé. The decisive goal was scored by Bil Nsongo in the 46th minute, following an assist from Arthur Avom.

For Côte d'Ivoire, the match marked the first defeat for head coach Hervé Renard since his return. Renard stated he took the risk of fielding a nearly entirely new starting eleven to observe different players, including debutants Christ Tapé, Kassoum Ouattara, and Amadou Koné. Despite increased offensive pressure in the second half, the Ivorian side could not find an equalizer.

Cameroon's victory was characterized by defensive solidity and effective counter-attacks. Goalkeeper Simon Ngapandouetnbu played a key role in maintaining the clean sheet. The match also featured a notable error by Ivorian goalkeeper Alban Lafont in the closing minutes, though it did not impact the final score.