Elephants out to trample Super Eagles

COTE d’lvoire will go head to head with Nigeria in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group A match at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan today.

Kick-off is at 7:00 pm (Zim Time).

CURRENT FORM

The National Elephants started their Group A campaign with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on 13 January which sees Cote d’lvoire placed at the top of the group standings.

The tournament hosts are enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions having recorded two draws and five matches.

Meanwhile, Nigeria drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea in their first Group A match on 14 January and they are placed second on the group standings.

The draw extended the Super Eagles’ winless run to four matches across all competitions having registered three draws and one defeat.

TEAM NEWS

It is unclear whether Sebastien Haller will be available for selection after the Ivorian centre forward missed the game against Guinea-Bissau due to an injury.

Nigeria, on the other hand, have been boosted by the arrival of Terem Moffi who replaced the injured Victor Boniface in the squad.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Cote d’lvoire head coach Jean-Louis Gasset.

“We know Nigeria’s strengths — their attacking line-up is impressive and their striker is the best in Africa,” Gasset said.

“We will have to improve but having got the opening match pressure off, I’m sure my players will step up.” Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro

“If you want to win Afcon, you must be ready to face tough opposition. So, we are ready, Ivory Coast is a good team and one of the favourites,” Peseiro said.

“If we create the same opportunities and take our chances, then we have a better chance of winning against Ivory Coast.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seko Fofana,Cote d’lvoire: The powerful midfielder is the heartbeat of the Ivorian midfield and he also poses a threat to the opposition with his goalscoring ability having scored against Guinea-Bissau.

Victor Osimhen, Nigeria: Considered among the best strikers in the world, the reigning CAF Footballer of the Year will be oozing with confidence after scoring his first goal in the Afcon finals against Equatorial Guinea.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Cote d’lvoire and Nigeria have met 27 times across all competitions. The Elephants have won nine games compared to the Super Eagles’ eight wins and 10 games ended in a draw.

The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-0 win in favour of Cote d’lvoire in a friendly match played in UAE in January 2015 — SuperSport.