Maurice Revello Tournament: Olympic Elephants overpower Venezuela to top Group B

After their disappointment in the opening match, the Ivory Coast U23s roared back with a thunderous 3-1 victory over Venezuela—a crucial win that temporarily sends them to the summit of Group B.

Ivory Coast claimed their first win at the 2026 Maurice Revello Tournament. After a thrilling 3-3 draw with Japan in the opening round, the Elephants completely changed their trajectory with a 3-1 win over Venezuela on June 3. The Ivorians dictated the tempo throughout, earning a deserved and vital victory in the race for the semifinals.

The Ivorian goal fest was kicked off by their indispensable star, Joslin Tah Bi. Having already scored against Japan, he found the net again in the 35th minute to set his team on the right path before the break. Despite a spirited Venezuelan resurgence that saw Henry Diaz level the score in the 70th minute, Ivory Coast showed remarkable mental fortitude in the dying stages. Maliik Yalcouye restored the Elephants' lead in the 84th, and Dramane Kamate sealed the result with a third goal deep into stoppage time (90'+6).

Thanks to this dazzling performance, Ivory Coast temporarily top Group B with four points. Beyond the numbers, this tournament is the perfect platform for the Ivorian technical staff to fine-tune preparations for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the upcoming Olympic challenges.

Nafongo TRAORE |

News Editorfr, ar, en

Nafongon Moussa TRAORE, Burkinabè de 25 ans, est passionné de football, est rédacteur pour Foot Africa et commentateur pour BurkiFoot.

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