Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Haaland Rescues Norway Campaign with Late Winner versus Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast and Norway. Two nations, two continents, two different styles - one excellent game of football.

One of the most mouth-watering ties in this round of World Cup fixtures couldn't really have been much better from a viewing perspective.

It had goals, individual brilliance, tactical nuances and was on a knife-edge throughout but ultimately, it was the Europeans who emerged as the victors, even if it was by the skin of their viking teeth.

Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway as it happened

The game started in exactly the expected fashion. Neither side was really able to take control of the game and, despite no real chances for either country, the early going had a rather frantic yet cagey feel that captured the jeopardy of a World Cup knockout game to a tee.

The first real opening of the game didn't come until the 20th minute, when an intricate piece of Ivorian interplay sent flying full-back Ghislain Konan on his way into the box. The Gil Vicente man could only find the side netting though and showed exactly why he has never scored for his country.

Yan Diomande was, as expected, the livewire. An excellent bit of 1vs1 work to spin up Pedersen ended with a floated ball to the back post in the 28th minute, Pepe looked to put the ball back across but Bonny wasn't alert and the chance went begging.

Antonio Nusa clearly didn't take fondly to his counterpart taking the limelight and, in the 40th minute, took it upon himself to break the run of play as he jinked inside the uncomfortable Nicolas Pepe and curled a peach of an effort into the top right corner.

Norway had been the worse of the two sides, but the goal clearly gave them confidence and the next couple of minutes were spent with a clear bit between their teeth to double their lead.

Alas, they were unable to convert a couple of big chances and the half ended with the Scandinavian's narrowly in front.

**Half time: Ivory Coast 0-1 Norway

Ivory Coast were once again on the front foot at the start of the second period with a couple of early chances, including an excellent ball by Guela Doue that the Ivorians failed to make the most of.

In the 54th minute, Nicolas Pepe forced a solid stop from Nyland in the Norwegian net. That was quickly followed by another tame effort on goal by Kessie as the Africans continued to to establish dominance but without anything to show for their efforts.

Despite the Ivorians looking more likely, Norway almost punished them again as the clock struck the 67th minute (don't even). A whipped corner by Odegaard was flicked on by Sorloth before dropping perfectly for the onrushing Heggem, who struck toward goal but saw his effort blocked on the line by the subsitute Amad Diallo.

Diallo would continue the heroics in the 74th minute by finally putting his side back level. He collected the ball on the right, drove menacingly at the Norwegian backline before playing a delicious one-two with the Pepe. Diallo regained the ball and delicately swerved inside two Norwegian challenges before finishing off a magical move into the far corner and sending the Ivorians delirious. Game well and truly on.

Just ten minutes later, though, and Norway once agin put themselves back in front. Despite not being involved at all throughout the 84 minutes to that point, Erling Haaland was the man to tuck the chance away - how many times have we seen that script?

A pinpoint through ball by Oscar bobb was threaded to Patrick Berg who stabbed the ball across the box to the waiting Haaland. Fofana scrambled back across his goal but was unable to prevent the robot from scoring for the fifth time at this World Cup.

Ivory Coast huffed and puffed from there, with the most testing effort coming via a magnificent curling Diallo freekick that Nyland was more than equal to as he tipped over.

But the Africans were unable to grab a second and, as the full time whistle sounded, were ultimately left disappointed by their shortcomings in the final third.

The Elephants slain, the viking row continuing to build momentum. Another World Cup banger in this round of 32.

Ivory Coast player ratings

Fofana - 6

Doue - 6 Kossounou - 6 Agbadou - 5 Konan - 7

Kessie - 6 Sangare - 5 Oulai - 4

Pepe - 8 Bonny - 5 Diomande - 7

Subsitutes Amad Diallo (60') - 8 Elye Wahi (60') - 6 Diakite (87') - 5 Toure (92') - N/A Guessand (92') - N/A

Norway player ratings

Nyland - 7

Pedersen - 6 Ajer - 7 Heggem - 6 Moller Wolfe - 6

Odegaard - 7 Berge - 6 Berg - 7

Sorloth - 5 Haaland - 6 Nusa - 8

Substitues Schjelderup (71') - 6 Oscar Bobb (71') - 7 Aursnes (82') - 6

Man of the Match: Antonio Nusa

This could quite easily have been either Nicolas Pepe or Yan Diomande, or even Diallo depending how much importance you place on subsitutes.

But all of those were ultimately on the losing side and it would be undeservedly cruel to ignore the brilliance of Antonio Nusa in not only scoring that delightful first goal, but also his willingness to be the driving creative force for his nation throughout.