Guela Doue haunted his brother’s national team on Thursday evening, scoring once and setting up the winner as Ivory Coast produced a shock 2-1 comeback victory over France in a World Cup warm-up fixture at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
The 23-year-old Strasbourg defender, older brother of France and Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue, cancelled out Rayan Cherki’s sublime opener shortly after the interval before delivering the cross that Amad Diallo converted for the winner. The result handed the Elephants a first-ever victory over Les Bleus.
France had appeared comfortably in control after an encouraging first-half display, with Cherki’s moment of brilliance giving them the lead. Didier Deschamps’s side unravelled after the break, however, as Ivory Coast punished a succession of defensive lapses. Deschamps made 10 substitutions in the second half as France struggled to cope with the pace and directness of their opponents.
The positive note for the hosts was Cherki’s overall display. The Manchester City player made a compelling case for inclusion in the starting line-up for France’s World Cup opener against Senegal on 16 June.
Captain Kylian Mbappe started and showed intent throughout the opening period, creating several dangerous situations against a disciplined Ivory Coast side before being replaced at the interval.
France threatened early when Michael Olise slipped Mbappe through in the seventh minute, but goalkeeper Yahia Fofana reacted well to parry the striker’s effort. Cherki should have put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute after Marcus Thuram picked him out in front of goal, only to hesitate and be denied by a last-ditch challenge.
He remained influential throughout, and nearly turned provider nine minutes later when Aurelien Tchouameni’s header from his delivery was tipped over by Fofana.
Cherki finally got his reward on the stroke of half-time. He gathered a loose ball on the right side of the area, dragged it past a defender with a clever drag-back and fired a right-footed shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner.
France were caught off guard early in the second half. Guela Doue was played through by Nicolas Pepe and slipped the ball past Mike Maignan to level in the 53rd minute. His cross was then met by Diallo, who tapped in to boost Ivory Coast’s morale ahead of their departure to the United States.
Les Bleus, who had been on a nine-match unbeaten run, face Northern Ireland in a final warm-up fixture in Lille on Monday. Ivory Coast begin their World Cup campaign against Ecuador on 15 June.
