Ivory Coast will begin their African Cup of Nations title defense against Mozambique on Wednesday, marking an exciting start to the tournament. Although Ivory Coast finished second in their qualification group behind Zambia, they have shown resilience with robust performances in recent World Cup matches.
Mozambique, on the other hand, secured their place in the tournament by finishing second in Group I, marking their sixth appearance in the African Cup of Nations. Despite their history of never advancing beyond the group stage, they aim to make a significant impact this year, starting with a positive result against the defending champions.
The Ivorian squad is lauded for its strength and depth, featuring talented players like Amad Diallo, Yan Diomande, and Oumar Diakite, who provide a formidable attacking threat. Historically, Ivory Coast has dominated their encounters with Mozambique, winning five of their seven meetings and drawing the other two, further solidifying their status as favorites ahead of this clash.
Mozambique, known as the Mambas, will look to draw inspiration from their recent friendly match against Morocco, where they put up a spirited fight despite losing 1-0. Their hopes will rest on standout players like Geny Catamo from Sporting CP and Reinildo Mandava from Sunderland.
In terms of team news, Ivory Coast will be without key striker Sebastian Haller, who played a pivotal role in their previous championship win but is currently sidelined due to injury. He has been replaced by Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand. Meanwhile, Mozambique will miss veteran midfielder Pepo, who also faced injury prior to the squad announcement.
The predicted line-ups for the match are as follows:
Ivory Coast (4-3-3): Yahia Fofana; Guela Doue, Emmanuel Agbadou, Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan; Amad Diallo, Ibrahima Sangare, Franck Kessie; Oumar Diakite, Yan Diomande, Evann Guessand.
Mozambique (4-2-3-1): Ernan Siluane; Bruno Langa, Reinildo Mandava, Edmilson Dove, Infren Matola; Alfons Amade, Manuel Kambala; Gildo Lourenco, Joao Bonde, Witi; Stanley Ratifo.
Given their impressive squad and historical advantage, predictions suggest that Ivory Coast might secure a 2-0 victory in this opening match of the tournament. Fans are eagerly anticipating the clash, hoping to see a display of skill and determination from both teams.