Ivory Coast and Zambia get their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign underway when they square off at the Stade de Yamoussoukro in Group H on Friday.
The Chipolopolo will be looking to return to the continental showpiece after missing out earlier this year, while the hosts are eyeing their 10th consecutive AFCON appearance.
Match preview
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Ivory Coast fell to a second friendly defeat on the bounce in their most recent outing on March 29 when they were beaten 3-0 by England at Wembley Stadium.
Ollie Watkins and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling put the Three Lions two goals up before 29-year-old defender Tyrone Mings scored in the 93rd minute to cap off a fine team display.
This followed a 2-1 defeat at the hands of France on March 25 when Olivier Giroud restored parity three minutes after Nicolas Pepe's 19th-minute opener, before Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni completed the comeback in the third minute of injury time.
Prior to their friendly defeats, the Elephants were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Egypt side in the round of 16 of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations back in January before going on to lose 5-4 on penalties.
Ivory Coast head into the qualifiers as one of the most decorated nations in the continent with two AFCON wins — with their most recent title triumph coming back in 2015, when they saw off West-African giants Ghana on penalties.
Jean-Louis Gasset's side will now look to end their losing streak and replicate their 2022 qualification campaign, where they finished top of Group K with 13 points from a possible 19.
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Meanwhile, this weekend's encounter will be Zambia's first game since the turn of the year, with their most recent outing coming last November, when they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Tunisia in Group B of the World Cup qualifiers.
The Chipolopolo, who are yet to make an appearance at the World Cup, won two and lost three of their group outings to pick up seven points and finish third in the group standings.
Zambia, who stunned the continent to claim the AFCON crown at the expense of Ivory Coast in 2012, have also failed to qualify for the continental showpiece since 2015, when they were sent packing in the group stages.
Aljosa Asanovic's side head into the weekend on a run of four victories from their last 12 games on the road since the start of 2020, losing five and picking up three draws in that time.
The Southern-African nation will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways and kicking off their qualification campaign on a high as they take on an opposing side who they are unbeaten against in three of their last four encounters since 2009.
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Team News
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Ivory Coast have suffered a huge blow ahead of this weekend's group opener against Zambia with five notable players set to sit out the tie injuries.
Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe, Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou and Burnley's Maxwell Cornet, who registered nine goals and one assist in 26 appearances, have all been sidelined with one injury or another.
Other notable absentees include the defensive duo of Manchester United's Eric Bailly and Watford's Hassane Kamara, who boasts five international caps to his name since his debut in the 2-1 win over Burkina Faso back in June 2021.
Despite their injury woes, Ivory Coast head into the weekend with a star-studded squad, including the likes of Wilfried Zaha, skipper Serge Aurier, Ajax goal machine Sebastien Haller and Franck Kessie, who was pivotal in AC Milan's run to the Scudetto.
As for Zambia, Asanovic has called up 24 players for their upcoming qualification games, including the Red Arrows trio of goalkeeper Charles Kalumba, defender Benedict Chepeshi and forward Ricky Banda.
Leicester City forward Patson Daka and 25-year-old Fashion Sakala have both been called up to lead the attack, while Brighton and Hove midfielder Enock Mwepu should handle the business at the centre of the park.
Mwepu, who made 18 appearances for the Seagulls, should be joined in midfield by 27-year-old Lubambo Musonda and Djurgardens's Emmanuel Banda, who recently joined up with the squad.
Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:
Sangare; Deli, Boly, Konan, Kanon; Sangare, Seri, Kessie; Boga, Haller, Zaha
Zambia possible starting lineup:
Nsabata; Chanda, Chepeshi, F Musonda, Mwape; L Musonda, Banda, Mwepu; Daka, Sakala, E Kangwa
We say: Ivory Coast 2-0 Zambia
Despite their injury woes, Ivory Coast boast a superior and more experienced squad and head into the weekend as firm favourites. While Zambia can be a hard nut to crack, we are tipping the Elephants to come away with an opening-day victory on home turf.
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