The Africa Cup of Nations never fails to provide exhilarating and peculiar moments. A Jefferson Encada clearance in the opening game between hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau has already provided fans with a hilarious highlight.
Encada, who plays at right back for Guinea-Bissau, appeared to have a simple game plan. That plan was the ball was not allowed in his penalty area.
In the first half he intercepted a pass inside the box and had several different options. He could pass back to his goalkeeper or to a fellow defender.
Instead Encada looked like when someone’s controller has a button jammed during a FIFA video game and the 25-year-old sent the ball to the moon and out for an Ivory Coast corner.
Encada clearance AFCON
Na dúvida, mete fora #sporttvportugal #taçadasnaçoesafricanas #costadomarfim #guinebissau pic.twitter.com/SFndBUiwvL
— sport tv (@sporttvportugal) January 13, 2024
No nonsense, no BS, just get the ball out of my box. You got to appreciate the commitment.
His teammates looked less than thrilled with his decision-making, but he finished the game with three clearances, so the joke is on them.
Despite Encada’s best efforts to keep the ball from grazing a blade of grass inside his 18-yard box, Ivory Coast secured a 2-0 victory.
The AFCON hosts scored a pair of beautiful goals from Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso.
Seko Fofana struck it just like his teammate Cristiano Ronaldo!
Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau is LIVE now on #beINSPORTS pic.twitter.com/7rPDqadVPA— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 13, 2024
Jean-Philippe Krasso extends the lead! ⚽
Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau is LIVE now on #beINSPORTS #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/5tc0fqcnqM— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 13, 2024
Ivory Coast sit top of Group A with their victory and a 1-1 draw between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
