World Cup: RB Leipzig’s star Diomande starts for Ivory Coast against Ecuador

Yan Diomande’s Ivory Coast play against Ecuador in their opening World Cup game from Germany’s group.

Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images

RB Leipzig’s sought-after winger Yan Diomande is in the Ivory Coast starting lineup for their opening World Cup game against Ecuador. The 19-year-old is tipped to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, with the Bundesliga club expecting a record transfer sum.

Emerse Faé’s side also have another Bundesliga prospect in Bazoumana Touré as the Hoffenheim attacker starts on the left wing. Eintracht Frankfurt’s returnee Elye Wahi is one of the two strikers for one of the ten African representatives after his excellent loan spell at OGC Nice.

Ex-Bundesliga defenders Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen) and Willian Pacho (Frankfurt) start for Sebastián Beccacece’s team. Spanish-born Jeremy Arévalo, who has only played 32 Bundesliga minutes for Stuttgart, is on the substitute bench for Ecuador.

German-born John Yeboah, who has played for Wolfsburg and Duisburg early in his career, starts for the South Americans after playing his part in Venezia’s promotion to Serie A.

Confirmed Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador Lineups

Ivory Coast: Yahia Fofana; Guela Doué, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Diomande, Seko Fofana, Kessié ©, Touré; Pepé, Wahi

Ecuador: Galindez; Ordóñez, Pacho, Hincapié; Vite, Caicedo, Franco, Minda; Yeboah, Valencia ©, Plata