Ivory Coast and Nigeria meet at Stade Alassane Ouattara on Sunday for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations last and the pair’s second assembly this version. The Tremendous Eagles beat the Elephants again in Group A, however a lot has modified since then with Emerse Fae now main the Ivorian workforce after Jean Louis Gasset’s dismissal when it appeared as if the hosts had been eradicated on residence soil. All of the sudden, Ivory Coast arrive in Abidjan with a spring of their step whereas Nigeria have battled their approach right here after flirting with late catastrophe towards South Africa earlier than coming by means of on penalties. 

Nigeria have three AFCON titles to their hosts’ two coming into this one, however Jose Peseiro’s males have been the extra fancied facet total on this version. Protection has been key for the Nigerians this time with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali a revelation between the sticks and a four-game run with out conceding a objective solely ended by a late South African penalty. Victor Osimhen might be key once more regardless of disallowed objectives limiting his present whole to only one objective, despite the fact that the reigning African Footballer of the Yr has had a key function. The final assembly was settled 1-0 by a William Troost Ekong penalty and this one guarantees to be equally as tight. An Ivorian win would imply a twelfth host nation success at AFCON however a primary since 2006 when Egypt triumphed at residence.

Here is our storylines, how one can watch the match and extra:

watch and odds

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 11 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
• Location: Stade Alassane Ouattara — Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• TV: beIN Sports activities USA
• Odds: Ivory Coast +180; Draw +180; Nigeria +170

Group information

Ivory Coast: Evan Ndicka, Ghislain Konan, Seko Fofana and Franck Kessie are taking part in essentially the most minutes this version however Ibrahim Sangare and Wilfried Singo are additionally rising as regulars. Serge Aurier might be again from suspension together with Oumar Diakite whereas Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra are more likely to begin with Nicolas Pepe and Max Gradel battling it out for one more beginning berth

Potential Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Aurier, Boly, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Seri, Fofana; Pepe, Haller, Adingra.

Nigeria: Osimhen, Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina and Frank Onyeka have clocked over 500 minutes this AFCON whereas Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon have have handed the 400-minute mark. Osimhen needs to be backed up by Lookman and Simon in assault though Terem Moffi and Kelechi Iheanacho helped to get the workforce by means of within the semis on penalties. Zaidu Sanusi might miss out due to Brilliant Osayi-Samuel once more with Aina on the opposite facet.

Potential Nigeria XI: Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Aina; Simon, Lookman; Osimhen.

Prediction

Ivory Coast have little to lose given how surprising this run to the ultimate has been whereas there’s expectation on Nigeria now. House benefit ought to see the Elephants triumph and edge out the Tremendous Eagles. Choose: Ivory Coast 2, Nigeria 1.