A clash between Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast will wrap up match day 1 of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage fixtures this Wednesday at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon. Kickoff is set for 22:00 EAT.
Equatorial Guinea makes their return to the continental showdown after a six-year absence. They last featured in the competition back in 2015 when they finished fourth. This is the first time they have made the group stage through qualifiers, the last two times they qualified as hosts in the competition.
Equatorial Guinea will play in this match after a 1-1 WC Qualifiers – Africa drawn game against Mauritania. Fewer than three goals per match were recorded in five of the last six meetings where Equatorial Guinea has taken part.
On the other hand Ivory Coast has been one of the most successful teams in Africa placed the 5th position in FIFA rankings and is making their eighth consecutive appearance in the competition this year. However, Les Éléphants will miss out on the World Cup for the second consecutive time following three successive appearances in the tournament as they finished two points behind Cameroon in the qualifiers.
Ivory Coast and their travelling fans will be aiming to get a better result here following the 1-0 defeat in their last game at the hands of Cameroon in WC Qualifiers- Africa. Les Elephants have lost just one of their last 12 matches although that was a defeat which cost them a place in the playoffs of the World Cup qualifiers.
Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast head to head
Ivory Coast has an upper hand having won in one out of the only two head to head meetings between these two teams since 2012, the other match ended in tie while Guinea is yet to beat the foe.
- Ivory Coast 1-1 Equatorial Guinea 29/03/15
- Ivory Coast 3-0 Equatorial Guinea 04/02/12
Home
- Mauritania 1-1 Equatorial Guinea
- Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Tunisia
- Zambia 1-1 Equatorial Guinea
- Equatorial Guinea 2-0 Zambia
- Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Mauritania
Away
- Cameroon 1-0 Ivory Coast
- Ivory Coast 3-0 Mozambique
- Ivory Coast 2-1 Malawi
- Malawi 0-3 Ivory Coast
- Ivory Coast 2-1 Cameroon
Equatorial Guinea team news
There is no injury or suspension concerns at the moment for this side at the moment.
Ivory Coast team news
Patrice Beaumelle has no absentees in the first game.
Prediction and odds
Ivory Coast have more experience at this level to create enough chances to rack up a good score against Equatorial Guinea and come away with all three points.
- Ivory Coast Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- Both teams to score
