Sangaré scores almost as often in nine days as in the entire career before

Friday, October 8, 2021 at 17:30• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 17:34

Ivory Coast has taken a new step towards participating in the 2022 World Cup. Les Élephants won 0-3 against Malawi on Friday, partly due to a goal by Ibrahim Sangaré. The 23-year-old midfielder of PSV has thus scored three times in his last three official games. By comparison, in his entire career, Sangaré had scored just four times, for clubs and country combined, until nine days ago. Ivory Coast leads Group D of the African qualifying series with seven points from three matches.

Sangaré gave PSV the lead in the Europa League match against Sturm Graz (1-4) and the league match against Sparta Rotterdam (2-1). On Friday at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, where the game against Malawi took place because the African Football Association (CAF) did not approve the stadiums in the country, he scored the second goal five minutes before the end. He received the ball in the penalty area from substitute Gervinho and found the right corner.

Ivory Coast had taken the lead after 35 minutes, when Malawi failed to clear a cross from Serge Aurier sufficiently and the ball landed at the feet of Max Gradel. In the second half Malawi looked for an equalizer without success. It had some chances, but the final phase was for Ivory Coast. Franck Kessié hit the post before Sangaré scored and Jérémi Boga determined the final score deep in injury time.

Ivory Coast had to do without Sébastien Haller, who is in hospital with his wife in Johannesburg for the birth of their child. National coach Patrice Beaumelle hopes to be able to use the Ajax striker again on Monday, when it takes up again against Malawi. Malawi is stuck on three points from three matches due to the defeat. Group D also includes Cameroon (three points from two matches) and Mozambique (one point from two matches). The group winner advances to the last round, in which a diptych with another group winner is fought for a World Cup ticket.


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