Sierra Leone will meet defending champions Cote d'Ivoire at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday. The hosts have endured a winless start to their campaign while Les Éléphants have a 100% record thus far.
The two teams met at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in the reverse fixture last week and the defending champions recorded a 4-1 home win. Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring in the first half, Franck Kessié bagged a second-half brace and Oumar Diakité added the fourth goal from the penalty spot in the 87th minute. Alhassan Koroma had equalized for Leone Stars in the 43rd minute.
The hosts need to win this match to keep their qualification hopes alive while a win for Les Éléphants will confirm their spot in the main event.
Sierra Leone vs Cote d'Ivoire Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have squared off nine times in all competitions. The visitors have been the better side in these meetings and have an unbeaten record with seven wins.
- Five of the last six meetings between the two teams have produced over 2.5 goals, with the defending champions scoring at least four goals in three games.
- The hosts are winless in their last four games in all competitions, suffering two defeats on the trot while conceding nine times.
- Sierra Leone are winless in their last five games in the AFCON qualifiers, suffering four losses.
- Cote d'Ivoire are unbeaten in their last 11 games across all competitions and have scored at least two goals in six of their last eight games.
- The visitors have kept clean sheets in four of their last five away games in the AFCON qualifiers.
Sierra Leone vs Cote d'Ivoire Prediction
Leone Stars head into the match on a four-game winless streak across all competitions and will look to bounce back with a win in this home game. They are winless in their last four home games in the AFCON qualifiers but have suffered just one loss in their last nine home games in the competition.
The Elephants are on an 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. They are on a four-game winning streak in the AFCON qualifiers, scoring nine goals while conceding just once. They have won seven of the nine meetings against the hosts, and are strong favorites.
Considering the visitors' dominance in this fixture and 100% record in the qualifying campaign thus far, the defending champions are expected to record a comfortable win.
Prediction: Sierra Leone 1-3 Cote d'Ivoire
Sierra Leone vs Cote d'Ivoire Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Cote d'Ivoire to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Jean-Philippe Krasso to score or assist any time - Yes