Ivory Coast strengthened their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over fellow African side Mali in a closed-door international friendly played in Morocco.
Grâce-Ruth Sery scored the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute at the Municipal Stadium of Berrechid, giving the Elephantes a morale-boosting win as they continue their build-up to the continental championship.
The encounter formed part of both nations’ final preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be staged in Morocco from 25 July to 16 August, and provided an important opportunity for both coaching staffs to assess their squads before the tournament begins.
For Ivory Coast, the victory marked an encouraging response after a narrow defeat to Ghana’s Black Queens just one week earlier.
The Elephantes had lost 1-0 in that previous friendly but showed resilience by returning to winning ways against another strong African opponent.
The result offers further encouragement as Ivory Coast seek to build momentum before the continent’s biggest women’s football competition.
Although the match was played behind closed doors, it carried significance for both teams.
Friendly fixtures in the days leading up to major tournaments are often used to sharpen tactical systems, evaluate player fitness and help coaches finalise their preferred starting line-ups.
That was particularly true for Mali, whose technical staff used the contest as a valuable opportunity to review the squad in competitive conditions.
Despite suffering defeat, the Malian coaching team was able to observe players under match pressure and identify areas requiring further improvement before the tournament gets underway.
The breakthrough eventually came shortly before half-time.
Grâce-Ruth Sery found the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, giving Ivory Coast an advantage they successfully protected for the remainder of the game.
Her strike ultimately proved enough to separate the two teams after a fiercely contested contest on Moroccan soil.
For Ivory Coast, the victory continues a positive phase of tournament preparations.
Having recovered quickly from last week’s defeat against Ghana, the Elephantes have demonstrated their ability to respond under pressure, an attribute that could prove valuable during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Building confidence through victories in pre-tournament friendlies can often play an important role in helping teams establish rhythm before competitive football begins.
Mali, meanwhile, may have left the field without a positive result, but the fixture still achieved one of its principal objectives.
Preparation matches are designed not only to produce victories but also to provide coaches with information that can influence tactical decisions and squad selection.
The defeat therefore offers valuable lessons that the Malian technical staff can analyse before the opening fixtures of the tournament.
From an African football perspective, matches between continental rivals before major competitions also reflect the increasing competitiveness of the women’s game across Africa.
National teams are placing greater emphasis on structured preparations, using high-quality opposition to ensure they arrive at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in the strongest possible condition.
