Ivory Coast square off with Comoros at the Stade Bouake in the first of their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header on Friday.
This will be the second meeting between the two nations since the Elephants stormed to a 3-1 friendly victory when the sides locked horns in June 2019.
Match preview
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As they resume their quest for a record-equalling 25th AFCON appearance, Friday's game also serves as an opportunity for Ivory Coast to put behind and move on from January's Africa Nations Championship woes.
Having finished as one of the three best losers in the group stages, the Elephants fell to a 1-0 loss against Algeria in the quarter-finals on January 27, with Aimen Mahious tucking away his extra-time penalty to send the Greens through.
Prior to their CHAN campaign, the West African side were on a run of consecutive friendly defeats, losing 2-1 against Burkina Faso in November 2022 — which saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end — before being thrashed 3-0 by Mauritania in their first outing of 2023.
While Ivory Coast have struggled to get going over the past few months, managing just one win in their last six matches, they will take pride in their performance in the AFCON qualifiers, where they have enjoyed a solid start to the campaign.
Having kicked off their campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over Zambia last June, Jean-Louis Gasset's men held Lesotho to a goalless draw six days later to move top of Group H with four points from a possible six.
The two-time African champions have now gone six consecutive AFCON qualifying matches without defeat, a run that they will be looking to continue this weekend as they eye a 10th straight appearance at the continental showpiece since their absence in 2004.
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Almost similarly, Comoros' form heading into Friday has been nothing to write home about as they have failed to taste victory in six of their most recent seven matches across all competitions.
Les Coelacantes hopes of securing a place in the 2022 Africa Nations Championship for home-based players were dashed as they suffered a 1-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of South Africa last July.
This was followed by consecutive friendly losses as they were beaten 1-0 by Tunisia on September 22, barely one week before falling to a 2-1 defeat against Burkina Faso at the Stade Pere Jego.
Notwithstanding their form, with 12 points still to play for in Group H of the AFCON qualifiers, Comoros can turn things around as they eye a second straight appearance at the continental showpiece.
Younes Zerdouk's side, who sit level on three points with second-placed Zambia, must draw inspiration from their opening-day performance, when Youssouf M'Changama and Benjaloud Youssouf found the target to secure a 2-0 win over Lesotho on June 3.
However, Comoros have struggled to grind out results on opponent's turf, where they are currently on a run of five defeats and one draw in their last six matches, with last July's 2-1 win over Seychelles being the exception.
Team News
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Ivory Coast have named a star-studded 23-man squad for their qualifying double-header, including skipper and Nottingham Forest full-back Serge Aurier, who has 83 senior caps to his name.
Amad Diallo has been a revelation in the Championship this season and the Manchester United loanee will be hoping to impress this weekend, while Dortmund man Sebastien Haller will be looking to add to his four international goals tally.
There will be healthy competition in the centre of the park, with the likes of Franck Kessie, Jean Michael Seri, Jean-Philippe Gbamin and PSV Eindhoven star Ibrahim Sangare vying for starting roles.
Meanwhile, Zerdouk has opted for a mix of experience and youth in his 24-man call-up, with a majority of the summoned players plying their trade in the French division.
All eyes will be on M'Changama as the Auxerre midfielder will be looking to make a record-extending 55th senior appearance since his debut in October 2010.
The 32-year-old has chipped in 11 goals in that time, and while he has an eye for goals, El Fardou Ben Nabouhane should spearhead the visitors' attack once again as he leads the nation's scoring chart with 17 strikes.
Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:
A Sangare; Aurier, Kossounou, Bailly, Konan; I Sangare, Seri, Kessie; Diallo, Gradel, Haller
Comoros possible starting lineup:
Ahamada; A Abdallah, M Abdallah, M'Dahoma, B Youssouf, M Youssouf; Bachirou, M'Changama, Bourhane; Selemani,Nabouhane
We say: Ivory Coast 3-0 Comoros
Looking at the gulf in class and quality between the two squads, it is difficult not to see Ivory Coast cruising to a comfortable victory. Buoyed by the support of their home fans, we predict that Gasset's men will come away with all three points in what should be a pulsating contest with plenty of goal-mouth action.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
