Mali W vs Ivory Coast W

Sery's 42nd-minute goal was the decisive moment — not just for the scoreboard but for the tactical shape of the game. Coming so close to half-time, it forced Mali to reconfigure their approach during the break, chasing the game from the restart. Ivory Coast's backline, protected by a compact midfield block, absorbed Mali's second-half pressure without conceding. The timing of the goal — just before the whistle — denied Mali the chance to respond immediately, giving Ivory Coast the psychological edge at the interval.

Grace-Ruth Sery (Ivory Coast W) — The match-winner. The FC Nordsjælland attacker, who joined the Danish club from the Right to Dream Academy, scored the only goal of the game in the 42nd minute on what was a landmark appearance for the Ivorian international.

Ivory Coast defence — A clean sheet away from home, maintained for 48 minutes plus stoppage time after the goal. The defensive unit absorbed whatever Mali applied in the second half without breaking, a disciplined display that boded well for the tournament ahead.

Mali W — Limited to a single-goal defeat but unable to create clear-cut chances in the second half. The Aigles Dames would need sharper finishing in their Group D campaign, which featured Ghana, Cameroon and Cape Verde.

The 0-1 full-time scoreline matching the 0-1 half-time score tells a straightforward story: a tight contest settled by a single moment of quality. The 42nd-minute timing of the goal meant Mali had the entire second half to respond but could not find a way through. Ivory Coast's ability to protect a narrow lead for nearly 50 minutes points to disciplined defensive structure — a useful trait for a Group B that included South Africa, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.

This was the final preparation fixture for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which kicked off on 26 July across venues in Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco. Ivory Coast are in Group B alongside South Africa, Burkina Faso and Tanzania — they opened their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso on 27 July, with Rebecca Elloh, Ines Konan (2) and Nsira Ouedraogo on the scoresheet.

Mali are in Group D with Ghana, Cameroon and Cape Verde, playing Cameroon on 29 July. This clean-sheet win gave Ivory Coast momentum heading into the tournament, while Mali had work to do before their opener.

A professional, no-frills friendly win for Ivory Coast. Sery's goal was enough on a day when Mali offered little in response. The clean sheet will be the most encouraging takeaway for the Ivory Coast coaching staff ahead of WAFCON 2026, where tougher tests awaited in Group B.

• Betmana provider payload (match_get) — score, scorers, lineups, timing
• nb-bet.com — confirmed venue: Berrechid Municipal Stadium
• CAFonline.com — Ivory Coast 4-1 Burkina Faso match report, 27 July 2026
• ESPN — WAFCON 2026 Group B results
• Olympics.com — WAFCON 2026 schedule and format