AFCON 2023: Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Ivory Coast are hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time

The eagerly awaited African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is scheduled to commence in Ivory Coast. The tournament promises to be a stage for the continent’s most prominent talents to display their skills, building on their remarkable performances for both their clubs and their notable contributions during the Qatar World Cup 2022.

The matches will be held at six stadiums across five cities. On the opening day, the attention will be on the host nation, but following that, expect a minimum of two matches per day during the group stage. Having secured automatic qualification for AFCON as hosts, Ivory Coast have been engaged in friendly matches, with their latest being against Sierra Leone last weekend.

Guinea-Bissau in the AFCON qualifier secured a 2-1 victory against Sierra Leone, securing second place in their group behind Nigeria. Nito Gomes and Franculino Dju scored to overturn an early goal by Amadou Bakayoko. Their World Cup qualifying journey has begun positively, earning four points from the initial two matches; victories against Djibouti and a draw against Burkina Faso place them third in the standings, trailing Egypt by two points at the top.

Kick-Off:

Sunday; 14 January 2024, 08:00 PM GMT (01:30 AM IST)

Location: Alassane Ouattara Stadium

Form

Ivory Coast (all competitions): D-D-W-W-W

Guinea-Bissau (all competitions): W-L-D-W-L

Players to watch

Seko Fofana (Ivory Coast)

Seko Fofana is known for his dynamic style, typically showcases strong technical abilities, impressive dribbling skills, and a knack for controlling the midfield. He’s versatile, often contributing defensively while also being influential in attacking plays; with the experience of playing across Europe alongside world-class players, he will be very vital for the host nation’s success in this edition of AFCON.

Mama Balde (Guinea-Bissau)

Mama Balde is a versatile player for the Guinea-Bissau national team. He primarily plays as a forward or winger, known for his speed, agility, and ability to take on defenders. Balde possesses good ball control, a powerful shot, and contributes to offensive plays with his creativity. His athleticism and skill set make him an impactful player on the pitch, this will be his third appearance in AFCON.

Match Facts

• Ivory Coast have won their last three matches, including a 5-1 victory against Sierra Leone in a pre-tournament friendly.
• Guinea-Bissau suffered a 6-2 defeat against Mali in their AFCON warm-up friendly.
• The ‘Wild Dogs’ exited the group stages of this tournament in 2022 without scoring a goal.
• Ivory Coast exited the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in the last 16, losing to Egypt in a penalty shootout.

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Injury and Team News

It seems like the host nation will likely be missing Simon Adingra and Sebastien Haller due to injuries when they play their opening group match. This absence could pose a challenge for the team as both players play crucial roles, potentially affecting their performance in the game.

Guinea-Bissau is expected to enter this match with only defender Nanu possibly being uncertain or questionable due to an undisclosed reason. This might pose a concern for the team, as Nanu’s participation is uncertain which might affect their defensive setup for the upcoming game.

Head-to-Head

Matches: 1

Ivory Coast: 1

Guinea-Bissau: 0

Draws: 0

Predicted lineup for Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau

Ivory Coast predicted lineup (4-3-3)

Fofana; Konan, Ndicka, Diomande, Singo; Sangare, Kessie, Seko Fofana; Bamba, Boga, Krasso

Guinea-Bissau predicted lineup (3-5-2)

Mendes; Djalo, Sori Mane, Djalo; Carlos Mane, Semedo, Cassama, Rodrigues, Quizera; Gano, Mama Balde

Match prediction for Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau

As hosts, Ivory Coast steps into this match as overwhelming favourites, aiming to kick off the tournament with a statement victory. The team, known as Les Éléphants, boasts an impressive track record, having clinched victories in their last three matches with commanding performances. Conversely, Guinea-Bissau faced a significant setback in their recent game, suffering a heavy defeat. This puts all the momentum in favour of Ivory Coast, making them the clear favourites in this upcoming clash.

Prediction: Ivory Coast 3-0 Guinea-Bissau

AFCON 2023 Telecast

India: Fancode

UK: Sky Sports

USA: beIN Sports

Nigeria: Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)

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