HAMED Traore scored his first goals for Ivory Coast as they began their World Cup qualification campaign with a 9-0 thrashing of Seychelles.

Cherries midfielder Traore came off the bench during the second half in Ebimpe with the Elephants five goals up.

The 23-year-old added to the tally was a well-struck effort from the edge of the area, before slotting in another late on after being presented with the ball by goalkeeper Carlos Simeon.

Traore will hope to earn his eighth cap against Gambia tomorrow (4pm).

Ghana also got their campaign off to a winning start, thanks to a last-gasp goal from Inaki Williams to beat Madagascar.

Cherries forward Antoine Semenyo led the line for Chris Hughton’s Black Stars, before being withdrawn on 73 minutes.

Dango Ouattara played the full 90 minutes as Burkina Faso drew 1-1 with Guinea-Bissau.

Cherries trio Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Kieffer Moore all started for Wales in their Euro 2024 qualifier away to Armenia.

The game eventually finished 1-1, meaning even victory over leaders Turkey on Tuesday night might now not be enough to seal a spot at next summer’s finals, depending on if second-placed Croatia can get the result they need.

Goalkeepers Andrei Radu and Mark Travers were unused substitutes for Romania and Republic of Ireland respectively.