Pakistan concludes FIFA Series with 2-0 defeat against Côte d’Ivoire

ABIDJAN: Pakistan concluded its FIFA Series campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan, showing defensive resilience against a higher-ranked opponent on Thursday.

The result placed Pakistan third in the standings after a mixed tournament that included an 8-0 win over Turks and Caicos and a 1-0 loss to Mauritania.

Despite the defeat, the match highlighted Pakistan’s disciplined structure and ability to compete against stronger opposition. Côte d’Ivoire, ranked 72 places above Pakistan, had previously scored heavily in the tournament but struggled to break down Pakistan’s defense for much of the game.

Pakistan held firm for nearly 40 minutes, with Kayla Siddiqi and Isra Khan organizing the backline and limiting the hosts to long-range efforts. Goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj made several key interventions, while full-backs Anmol Hira and Karissa Jivraj disrupted attacking crosses.

Côte d’Ivoire opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Ami Diallo headed in following a corner. The hosts increased pressure after the breakthrough, but Pakistan continued to defend resolutely, including a goal-line clearance by Isra.

The second goal came in the 69th minute, with Habibou Oudraogo converting another set-piece opportunity.

Pakistan’s challenge intensified minutes later when Anmol Hira was sent off for handling the ball on the goal line. Jivraj saved the resulting penalty, denying Bernadette Amani and keeping the score line within reach.

Jivraj continued to impress, making additional saves late in the match, including a close-range stop and a diving effort to deny a free kick.

The tournament marked a competitive outing for Pakistan, who showed improvement in defensive organization and composure under pressure.

The FIFA Series provided valuable international exposure for the team, with performances indicating progress despite the final result.

While speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Coach Adeel Rizki said that his side was up against “a tough opponent” wher it was key that th theam manage to keep its “shape and discipline.” 

“Overall, it was a very satisfying performance from the team to hold them to just two goals,” the coach said, adding that the games were “learning curve” for the team and they were bound to improve if they continued to “play against such opponents.”