Ivory Coast equalized twice to end the game 2-2 with Benin on Saturday, marking the African champion’s first match since securing a third AFCON title in February.
Junior Olaitan scored two goals on each side of the break as 98th-ranked Benin aimed to surprise Ivory Coast in Amiens, France.
Former Leeds and Bournemouth winger Max-Alain Gradel, 36, brought the Elephants level just before the half-hour mark, and then became emotional after scoring, as it was his final match for the team where he had played over 100 times.
Oumar Diakite then equalized Olaitan’s second goal in the 69th minute as a significantly different Ivory Coast team avoided a loss in their first match after winning the AFCON final 2-1 against Nigeria in Abidjan.
AFP
