Ivorian forward Hyllarion Goore came off the bench to score a decisive late winner as KAA Gent secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Danish side Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AGF) in the UEFA Conference League.

The African duo of Goore and Senegalese youngster Ibrahima Cissé played key roles in Gent’s triumph at the Planet Group Arena, with their contributions proving instrumental in a closely contested European encounter.

Cissé, 19, led the line for the Belgian side and consistently troubled the AGF defence with his movement and attacking intent. The Senegalese forward came close to breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute before creating another dangerous opportunity in the 73rd minute.

Despite Gent’s sustained attacking pressure, AGF remained resilient, keeping the hosts at bay as the contest approached its final stages.

However, Gent coach’s decision to introduce Goore in the 65th minute ultimately proved decisive.

The 21-year-old Ivorian striker made his presence felt when he latched onto a well-timed pass from Tiago Araújo in the 87th minute before calmly sweeping the ball into the net to hand Gent a crucial lead.

Goore’s clinical finish broke AGF’s resistance and sent the home supporters into celebration, sealing all three points for the Belgian outfit.

While Goore delivered the decisive moment, Cissé’s energetic display throughout the contest highlighted the growing influence of African talent in European football.

The late victory underlined Gent’s attacking persistence, with the contributions of the two young African forwards proving decisive in a match that appeared destined for a stalemate.

For Goore, the match-winning strike represented a memorable contribution off the bench, while Cissé continued to demonstrate his potential as a promising attacking prospect on the European stage.