Amad Diallo scored a spectacular goal, leading the African team back to the World Cup after 12 years

The Ivory Coast team officially qualified for the 2026 World Cup after a commanding 3-0 win against Kenya in the last round of African qualifiers. The brightest player on the field was Amad Diallo, who is part of Manchester United’s squad.

Entering the match with the mindset that only a full 3 points would guarantee their World Cup spot World Cup, Ivory Coast launched an aggressive attacking strategy right from the start. They didn’t take long to break the deadlock. In the 7th minute, Amad Diallo executed a skillful run down the right flank before delivering a perfect pass to captain Franck Kessié, who finished to open the scoring.

After the early goal, the home team continued to dominate possession, consistently creating dangerous chances against Kenya’s goal. Kenya had already been eliminated and was playing only for pride. However, the first half ended without any additional goals.

In the second half, Ivory Coast maintained full control of the match. At the 54th minute, Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, who persistently troubled the left wing, made a solo run almost from midfield before unleashing a powerful shot to double the lead.

By the 84th minute, Amad Diallo completed his brilliant performance with a stunning free kick. From just outside the box, the 23-year-old fired a precise shot into the far corner, leaving the Kenyan goalkeeper helpless as the ball hit the net.

The 3-0 victory allowed Ivory Coast to finish top of the group, despite their direct rival Gabon also winning 2-0 against Burundi in a simultaneous match. Nevertheless, that result was not enough to stop the "Elephants" from making their comeback to the world’s biggest stage, the World Cup, after missing out since 2014.

Amad Diallo’s outstanding display not only helped the Ivory Coast achieve their goal but also demonstrated that he is increasingly establishing himself as one of Africa’s most promising attacking talents. With Manchester United closely monitoring the progress of their young players, this impressive performance will surely boost Diallo’s confidence upon returning to the club.

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