Host nation of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Ivory Coast were too strong at home against Zambia during the first match day of the qualification series on Friday.
French coach Jean-Louis Gasset therefore made a winning debut as boss of the Ivory Coast as they take control of qualifying Group H. In the other group game Comoros beat Lesotho by 2-0.
Serge Aurier, the Villareal defender and skipper of the Elephants broke the deadlock in the 67th minute before goals followed from Christian Kouame and Ibrahima Sangare in the 76th and 89th minutes in that order.
Patson Daka of Leicester City scored the consolation goal for the away team.
