Arch-rivals Cameroon and Ivory Coast to face-off in AFCON

The police had to restrain the crowd in the AFCON qualifying match between Cameroon and Ivory Coast

Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), January 27 (IANS)

Giants Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire will face-off in a crucial Group D clash of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Wednesday at the Malabo Stadium.

The match promises to be a thriller as both teams have two points each. Although Cameroon were superior over their rivals in the qualifiers as they were pooled together, Cote d'Ivoire have promised to turn tables, reports Xinhua.

“We respect the Cameroon team, but we are hungry to register our first win in the group stage and make it to the last eight,” Cote d'Ivoire captain Yaya Toure said.

In the qualifiers for the Afcon, Cameroon stopped Toure's team 4-1 before settling for a goalless draw in Abidjan.

Interestingly, all the four teams in Group D have two points each and the same number of goals scored and conceded. All of the teams have the chance of making it to the knock-out stage or face an early exit.

Four-time champions Cameroon will look to skipper Stephane Mbia, who made his first appearance in the draw against Mali after serving a suspension.

The likes of Frank Etoundi, Clinton Nje, Benjamin Moukandjo and Eric Maxim Choup-Moting will also be expected to play key roles for the Indomitable Lions.

Besides the 2014 Africa Player of the Year Toure, Cote d'Ivoire will look to Salomon Kalou, Lacina Traore, Wilfried Bony and Max Gradel, who scored in the 1-1 draw against Guinea.

Yao Gervinho, who was sent off in their opening match against Guinea will hope that Cote d'Ivoire can qualify for the next stage so that he has a role to play again.