Ivory Coast vs Gambia Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds

The Manhattan of West Africa gear up to host Johny McKinstry’s side.

The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers take us to the Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny as Ivory Coast and Gambia lock horns in a thrilling clash.

Ivory Coast have asserted their dominance in Group F of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, maintaining an unbeaten run against formidable opponents like Gabon, Burundi, and Kenya. Their recent 1-0 victory over Burundi further solidified their position at the top, showcasing their defensive resilience and attacking efficiency. With key players in top form, they remain strong favourites to qualify for the next stage.

As they prepare to host Gambia, the Elephants will aim to capitalize on their home advantage and extend their winning momentum. Gambia, on the other hand, will be eager to pull off an upset and boost their own qualification hopes.

Gambia have historically struggled against Ivory Coast, having never secured a victory in their past encounters. With their World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread, they must secure a crucial win in their upcoming match. Currently sitting in 5th place with just one win and a draw from five games, their campaign has been far from ideal. However, a victory could propel them level on points with 3rd-placed Burundi.

Their recent 3-3 draw against Kenya was a heartbreaking affair, as they were moments away from victory before William Wilson’s dramatic 96th-minute equalizer denied them all three points. Despite their defensive vulnerabilities, Gambia’s attacking intent remains promising, and they will need to replicate that energy against Ivory Coast.

Kick-off:

• Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• Stadium: Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny
• Date: Tuesday, 25 March
• Kick-off Time: 12:30 AM IST
• Referee: TBD
• VAR: In use

MD1: 🇨🇮 9-0 🇸🇨 MD2: 🇬🇲 0-2 🇨🇮 MD3: 🇨🇮 1-0 🇬🇦 MD4: 🇰🇪 0-0 🇨🇮 MD5: 🇧🇮 0-1 🇨🇮 4 wins, 1 draw & 13 points. The African Champions remain invincibles in the 2026 #WCQ. 💪 pic.twitter.com/eyQHO2yVrm

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) March 21, 2025

Form:

Ivory (in all competitions): W-L-W-W-L

Gambia (in all competitions): D-W-D-W-L

Players to watch out for:

Sebastien Haller (Ivory Coast)

Sebastien Haller, the 30-year-old French-born Ivorian striker, will be eager to make his presence felt as Ivory Coast continue its World Cup qualification campaign. Currently on loan at Utrecht from Borussia Dortmund, Haller has built an impressive career playing for clubs like West Ham United, Eintracht Frankfurt & Ajax before making his move to the Bundesliga.

Despite initially representing France at various youth levels, Haller chose to embrace his Ivorian roots, making his senior debut in 2020. His first goal for the Elephants came against Madagascar, and his most memorable contribution was his decisive goal in the 2023 AFCON final against Nigeria, securing Ivory Coast’s major continental title.

Sebastian Haller completes the comeback for Ivory Coast 😱🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/K6AaynyiDT

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 11, 2024

Sheriff Sinyan (Gambia)

Sheriff Sinyan, the 28-year-old Norway-born centre-back, has steadily established himself as a crucial figure in Gambia’s defensive setup. Having played for clubs like Slavia Prague and Molde, he recently joined CFR 1907, bringing with him a wealth of experience from European football. A key part of Molde’s Eliteserien-winning squad in 2022, Sinyan has proven his ability to marshal defences and organize the backline under pressure.

As Gambia prepare to take on a formidable Ivory Coast side, Sinyan’s leadership and defensive solidity will be vital in keeping the Elephants’ attack at bay. His ability to read the game, win aerial duels, and distribute the ball effectively will play a crucial role in Gambia’s hopes of securing a much-needed result.

Match Facts:

• Ivory Coast have 100% win accuracy over Gambia.
• They won three of their last five fixtures.
• Gambia lost one of their last five games.

Ivory Coast vs Gambia: Betting Tips and Odds:

• Ivory to win the match
• Sebastian Haller to score first
• Ivory Coast 4-1 Gambia

Injuries and Team News:

For the hosts, there are no injury concerns for the next match.

Gambia will also have a fully fit and available squad for the next game.

Head To Head stats:

Total matches – 04

Ivory won – 04

Gambia won – 00

Matches drawn – 00

Predicted Lineup:

Ivory Coast predicted lineup (3-4-2-1):

Fofana (GK); Singo, Gbamin, Agbdou; Doue, Aholou, Kessie, Kamara; Krasso, Guessand; Haller

Gambia predicted lineup (3-4-3)

Jarju (GK); Nije, Sinyan, Colley; Ceesay, Bajo, Barry, Fadera; Minteh, Sowe, Barrow

Match Prediction:

Ivory Coast have won every single of their last four games against Gambia. This time, we expect nothing less. Looking at the lethal attacking prowess, we expect the Elephants to win the match.

Prediction: Ivory Coast 4-1 Gambia

Telecast Details:

International – FIFA+

USA: ESPN+

Mali – ORTM Mali

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