Substitute Wilfried Zaha provided the decisive cross on his Ivory Coast debut as the African champions beat Sweden 2-1 in a friendly international on Sunday.
The former England international, who switched his allegiance to the Ivory Coast ahead of the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title, provided the perfect cross for Giovanni Sio to head home a 50th minute winner.
An own goal from Wilfried Kanon had Sweden ahead in the 42nd minute as he botched an attempted clearance of Nicklas Barkroth’s cross but Yao Serge Nguessan equalised on the stroke of half-time.
The Ivorians have been preparing for Afcon in the UAE. They will be heading to Gabon on Thursday and play their opening Group C game on Jan 16 against Togo.
Meanwhile, teenage forward Alexander Isak — dubbed the heir to Zlatan Ibrahimovic — became the youngest Sweden international in more than a century when he came on as a substitute.
Aged 17 years and 109 days, Isak, who plays in Sweden for AIK but has been linked with a move to numerous top European clubs, entered the fray in the 62nd minute of the friendly in Abu Dhabi.
*Agencies
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