AFCON 2023: Prediction, Stat… All to know ahead of Ivory Coast vs Nigeria
Ivory Coast and the Super Eagles of Nigeria will lock horns on Thursday in one of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’(AFCON) biggest group stage game.
Jean-Louis Gasset’s side will be looking to win their first two games of an AFCON since 2013, when they take on Nigeria, who were held to a surprise 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea in their first match.
With an early goal from Seko Fofana and a second-half effort from Jean-Philippe Krasso, the hosts overcame any pre-AFCON jitters to make a winning start on home soil in Abidjan on Saturday night.
On the other hand, Nigeria had to come from behind to get a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first Group A game on Sunday to avoid embarrassment. Though the giants of Africa squandered many chances to get a winner and despite having six shots on target, Osimhen only managed one goal at the end of the match. The last time a Nigerian player had more shots in a single competition group stage match was in January 2010 against Mozambique, when Peter Odemwingie had seven.
This will be the seventh Africa Cup of Nations match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast. They have each won two against each other and drawn two.
The last time the two heavyweights in african football played against each other in AFCON game was in 2013. Nigeria advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 victory.
The Super Eagles know they must get much better if they hope to emerge from their Thursday match against the Elephants with a win.
IVORY COAST VS NIGERIA TEAM NEWS
Sebastien Haller was not able to play in Ivory Coast’s match against Guinea-Bissau due to an ankle injury he is currently recovering from. Due to a muscle injury, Simon Adingra of Brighton was unable to play in the first game too. It is still unknown if either attacker will be ready to play on Thursday against the Super Eagles.
See also: AFCON: How Super Eagles can qualify from group after draw against Equatorial Guinea
Prior to the competition, Nigeria suffered a number of injuries that cost them important players like striker Umar Sadiq of Real Sociedad, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi of Leicester, and attacker Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen.
Additionally, it has been confirmed that the impressive Alhassan Yusuf who was called up to replace Wilfred Ndidi will not play against Ivory Coast due to an injury sustained against Equatorial Guinea.
IVORY COAST VS NIGERIA TIME AND VENUE
Kick-off date is Thursday 18th January, 2024
Kick-off time is 6pm
Venue is Stade Alassane Ouattara, Abidjan
IVORY COAST PREDICTED STARTING LINEUP: Fofana, Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, Sangare, Fofana, Boga, Krasso, Adingra
NIGERIA PREDICTED STARTING LINEUP: Nwabali, Aina, Troost-Ekong, Ajayi, Sanusi, Onyeka, Aribo, Iwobi, Simon, Lookman, Osimhen
IVORY COAST VS NIGERIA PREDICTION
Ivory Coast’s performance against Guinea-Bissau wasn’t the most spectacular, but they still managed to win with two excellent goals.
Jean-Louis Gasset’s team is a formidable force if you are not looking at their performance in their last game, supported by an enthusiastic home crowd. They have scored 19 goals in their last five games, defeating Sierra Leone 5-1 in their first AFCON warm-up friendly and hitting the Seychelles for nine goals in a November World Cup qualifier.
Even though injuries plagued Nigeria’s continental campaign from the start, they still have a very strong team, but they played a very good game against Equatorial Guinea if you are not looking at the result.
They have been unable to win any of their last four games in a roll now. They lost against Guinea just before the AFCON and drew their last two World Cup qualifiers matches with Lesotho and Zimbabwe and pressure is already hitting up on Jose Peseiro. Looking at the statistics, things are getting along well very well for the Super Eagles but things can change in one game and if its going to be that story for Nigeria, then it should start with this game against ivory Coast.
We predict 1:2 for the Super Eagles
See also: Revealed: See how much AFCON 2023 winners will earn
