Amad Diallo scores late winner as Ivory Coast come from behind to shock France before World Cup

Didier Deschamps was taking charge of his second to last match on French soil, this being the first of two warm-up fixtures for Les Bleus before travelling to North America. Kylian Mbappe led the line in Nantes and was aiming to equal Olivier Giroud’s all-time scoring record.

He came close to achieving that inside the opening 10 minutes, but Yahia Fofana’s outstretched arm kept out the home skipper’s close-range effort. It seemed only a matter of time until FIFA’s No. 1-ranked side took the lead, as Adrien Rabiot’s long-range strike flew narrowly over the target.

The hosts were clearly intent on putting on a display, with Fofana forced into action to stop Michael Olise after a slick, flowing move.

Ivory Coast were finding it difficult to create chances at the other end, but Seko Fofana did manage to find Simon Adingra in the area for a header that went over the bar.

Adingra then had another chance when he intercepted Aurélien Tchouameni and forced Mike Maignan into a good save, before Rayan Cherki scored the opener just before half time.

The Manchester City midfielder effortlessly wove through the Ivory Coast defence and slotted a clinical finish past Fofana.

Mbappe will have to wait at least one more match to draw level with Giroud’s record after being substituted as part of five French changes at half time, while Nicolas Pepe came on as one of two changes for the Ivory Coast.

Pepe provided an assist just eight minutes into the second half, playing a perfectly weighted through ball for Guela Doue to run onto and fire past Maignan, with his UEFA Champions League-winning younger brother Desire Doue watching from the France bench.

The evening then improved further for Emerse Fae’s team in the 84th minute, when Doue set up Amad Diallo to convert a superb first-time effort beyond Maignan, stunning the two-time world champions.

This was a result that hardly seemed possible after a largely dominant first half from Deschamps’ men, who were left regretting several missed chances before the interval.

They will aim to bounce back quickly when they host Northern Ireland in their final World Cup warm-up on Monday, while Ivory Coast can now dream of causing further upsets when they travel to North America.