![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/SONGMVZcYESEyISSB9qg5Crsrlo=\/750x500\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2F650E9FE0-E44A-471C-B8DB-6E8E9CC4CF36.jpeg\")
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Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh. Photo by IMAGO\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Ivory Coast teenage sensation Yan Diomande has continued to make history at the\u00a02026 FIFA World Cup<\/u><\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0his impressive performances for the Elephants,\u00a0Soccernet.ng<\/u><\/a>\u00a0reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n The RB Leipzig winger arrived at the tournament as one of Africa\u2019s most exciting young talents to watch, after he enjoyed a breakout campaign in\u00a0Germany, which also\u00a0earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old has carried that form\u00a0to the World Cup, emerging as one of Ivory Coast\u2019s standout performers in their opening two matches.<\/p>\n Diomande won the Man of the Match award in Ivory Coast\u2019s opening 1-0 victory over Ecuador\u00a0after an impressive outing. However, it was\u00a0Amad Diallo\u00a0who scored the decisive goal to\u00a0earn praise from former Super Eagles star Sam Elijah.<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n The teenager was also influential in Ivory Coast\u2019s second group-stage match against Germany. Although the Elephants eventually lost the game, Diomande played a key role in their only goal of the encounter.<\/p>\n According to OptaJoe<\/a>,\u00a0Yan Diomande has completed 16 dribbles at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far \u00a0\u2013\u00a0the most by any player after the first two matches of the tournament.<\/p>\n 16 \u2013 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddee Yan Diomande has made 16 dribbles at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most of any player across the first two matchdays.<\/p>\n It’s the most by an African teenager in a single edition over the last 60 years.<\/p>\n Excitement. pic.twitter.com\/SQm5AhMrWe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2014 OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n It is also the highest number of successful dribbles by an African player under the age of 20 at a World Cup since records began in 1966.<\/p>\n Diomande now holds the record for the most dribbles completed by an African player across his first two World Cup matches, surpassing the previous mark set by\u00a0Sunday Oliseh.<\/p>\n The former Super Eagles captain\u00a0completed eight dribbles in Nigeria\u2019s opening two matches at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Despite operating as a defensive midfielder, he\u00a0was impressive in their opening games against Bulgaria and Argentina in that tournament and his record had stood for 32 years until Diomande\u2019s emergence.<\/p>\n Ivory Coast will face World Cup debutants Curacao in their final group-stage match on Thursday night.\u00a0The Elephants are favourites for the clash and will be aiming for a victory that would confirm their place in the next round of the competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n While a draw would be enough for Ivory Coast to progress, they will be eager to secure all three points\u00a0and send a strong message to their potential Round of 32 opponents.<\/p>\n Diomande\u00a0will be aiming to challenge the record for the most successful dribbles in a single World Cup match,\u00a0which is held by Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okoch<\/u>a<\/u><\/a>, who\u00a0completed 15 dribbles in Nigeria\u2019s Round of 16 defeat to Italy at the 1994 World Cup.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old\u00a0could also match Jamal Musiala\u2019s record for the most successful dribbles by a teenager in a single World Cup match, after he\u00a0completed 12 dribbles for Germany against Costa Rica at the 2022 World Cup.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/2GxqyiV1ezVnOkBOU00dL5mNwio=\/4149x2766\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2F96FFEA62-7B5B-4BE2-8CCE-48B0A115AB7E.jpeg\")
Soccer Diomande breaks Sunday Oliseh\u2019s\u00a0record<\/h2>\n
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Soccer Ivory Coast youngster targets more World Cup history against Curacao<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/V-x0aacfY1X-VsGKjtHPDTa9mAk=\/2563x1709\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F06%2FCD818E63-65F5-4246-BCFE-1AB313395C9A.jpeg\")
Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ycGEJDr9VZlpO_5zujn3ZdvICxA=\/150×150\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2FAyomide-Oguntimehin-pics.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n