Seeking to make it two wins from two and extend their lead at the top of Group H, Ivory Coast visit the Dobsonville Stadium to face Lesotho in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers on Thursday.
The hosts, who are currently on a five-game winless run across all competitions, will be aiming to arrest this slump and get their campaign up and running.
Match preview
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Lesotho were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Comoros when the sides squared off the Group H curtain raiser last Friday.
In a one-sided affair at the Stade Omnisports de Malouzini, Youssouf M'Changama and Chateauroux defender Benjaloud Youssouf scored second-half goals to hand the hosts all three points.
Lesotho have now failed to taste victory in five consecutive outings across all competitions, claiming two draws and losing three games since a 2-1 victory over Zambia in the COSAFA Cup back in July 2021.
Leslie Notsi's men, who are aiming to secure their first-ever AFCON appearance, head into Thursday winless in each of their last eight qualifying games, dating back to a 1-0 victory over Tanzania in 2018.
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Ivory Coast, on the other hand, got their Africa Cup of Nations campaign off to a bang as they cruised to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Zambia in Friday's group opener.
Following an uneventful first half at the Municipal Stadium, Serge Aurier, Christian Kouame and Ibrahim Sangare scored to put the hosts three goals up before Leicester City's Patson Daka grabbed a 94th-minute consolation.
Prior to that, the Elephants were on a three-game losing streak, crashing out of the 2022 AFCON on penalties against Egypt back in January before suffering consecutive friendly defeats against France and England in March.
Ivory Coast are now unbeaten in each of their last five AFCON qualifying games, claiming four wins and one draw since a 2-1 loss to Ethiopia in Group K of the qualifiers back in November 2019.
Jean-Louis Gasset's men, who have clinched the continental crown on two occasions, will now look to maintain this fine run and secure a 10th consecutive appearance at the biennial tournament since their absence in the 2004 edition.
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Team News
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Despite their opening-day defeat, Notsi could name a similar starting side on Thursday, meaning we could see a back four of Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Kopano Tseka, Basia Makepe and Rethabile Rasethuntsa.
Matlama man Lisema Lebokollane will be tasked with winning the midfield battle, alongside Thabo Mafatle and 29-year-old Lehlohonolo Lenka.
Nkoto Masoabi failed to make his mark against Comoros before coming off at half time and the Merani Martvili forward could drop to the substitutes' bench, with Sera Motebang pushing for a starting role.
On the other hand, Gasset has no major reason to tinker with the starting side that comfortably saw off Zambia in Friday's group opener.
Ajax forward Sebastian Haller should spearhead the attack once again, with Max Gradel and former Chelsea man Jeremie Boga offering support from either flanks.
Kouame and Sangare were both on target on Friday as the duo should start at the centre of the park alongside Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri.
At the defensive end of the pitch, we should see a centre-back pairing of Willy Boly and Adana Demirspor man Simon Deli, shielding Badra Ali Sangare between the sticks.
Lesotho possible starting lineup:
Moerane; Mkwanazi, Tseka, Makepe, Rasethuntsa; Lenka, Mafatle, Lebokollane, Malane; Bereng, Masoabi
Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:
B Sangare; Aurier, Boly, Deli, Konan; Kouame, Seri, I Sangare; Gradel, Haller, Boga
We say: Lesotho 0-3 Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast will be licking their lips as they go up against a Lesotho side who have managed just one win in their last 17 outings since June 2019. The Elephants are superior and more experienced across all departments of the pitch and we predict they will come away with all three points unscathed.
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Top tip
Joshua Ojele
