Ivory Coast vs Cameroon - prediction, team news, lineups

African giants Ivory Coast and Cameroon spell head-to-head astatine Stade Alassane Ouattara successful an planetary affable connected Saturday evening.

With six and 4 points respectively from their opening 2 outings, some sides person made affirmative starts to their 2027 AFCON campaigns and volition beryllium looking to extremity the September/October model connected a high.

Match preview

Back for a 2nd stint, Herve Renard has rapidly justified his reappointment, with Tuesday’s 2-0 triumph implicit Somalia astatine Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny - acknowledgment to precocious goals from Yann Gboho and Bazoumana Toure - maintaining his 100% record.

As helium did astatine the commencement of his palmy archetypal spell successful 2014, Renard has won some of his opening 2 matches successful regularisation clip and remains the lone Ivory Coast manager to bash truthful successful the past 16 years, since Francois Zahoui successful 2010.

In keeping with Renard's philosophy, Les Elephants person been coagulated defensively, keeping 2 cleanable sheets and facing lone 3 shots connected people successful 180 minutes. Consequently, they are 1 of six teams yet to concede successful AFCON qualifying.

While Saturday’s clash with Cameroon is lone a friendly, immoderate would reason it is Renard’s toughest trial truthful far, with the contention expected to beryllium highly competitive.

Saturday's hosts person had the precocious manus successful this fixture of late, going unbeaten successful 5 of the past six meetings, astir precocious a 1-1 gully astatine the 2025 AFCON, which saw some teams driblet their lone points of the radical stage.

Like their upcoming opponents, Cameroon are inactive successful the aboriginal stages of a caller managerial era, with David Pagou overseeing conscionable his ninth lucifer successful complaint during Tuesday’s 1-1 gully with the Republic of Congo astatine Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat.

Despite enjoying agelong periods of dominance, the Indomitable Lions were incapable to assertion each 3 points and physique connected their opening triumph implicit Comoros. Nevertheless, they stay astatine the acme of their AFCON qualifying group, 1 constituent up of Namibia.

Balancing 2 managerial roles is nary casual feat, but Pagou has impressed during his abbreviated tenure with Cameroon, which helium is presently combining with his duties astatine Coton Sport de Garoua.

A triumph implicit Ivory Coast - thing Cameroon person achieved lone erstwhile since November 2014 - would supply a important boost arsenic the federation aims to reclaim its stature successful African football.

However, the Central Africans indispensable code a concerning inclination to amended their chances connected Saturday: they person conceded the opening extremity successful 4 of their past 5 meetings with Ivory Coast, who themselves person struck archetypal successful 5 of their erstwhile six matches up of this weekend’s clash.

Ivory Coast International Friendlies form:

Ivory Coast signifier (all competitions):

Cameroon International Friendlies form:

Cameroon signifier (all competitions):

Team News

After some coming disconnected the seat to people against Somalia, Bazoumana Toure and Yann Gboho could beryllium handed starting berths here.

A commencement would spot Gboho marque his afloat debut for Cote d’Ivoire arsenic the Coventry City antheral continues to settee into the squad.

Now connected 107 appearances, Franck Kessie stands conscionable 3 caps abbreviated of matching Max Gradel, who is presently 3rd successful the hosts’ all-time quality list.

With Andre Onana unavailable, Blondy Noukeu has established himself arsenic the first-choice goalkeeper, though either Emile Lako oregon Simon Ngapandouetnbu could beryllium selected to commencement here.

Ivan Cedric and Harouna Djibirin stay the lone outfield players successful the existent Cameroon squad yet to marque their debuts, and some volition beryllium keen to feature.

Manchester United winger Bryan Mbeumo serves arsenic Cameroon’s focal constituent successful attack, having netted 8 goals successful 34 appearances.

Ivory Coast imaginable starting lineup:

Lafont; Konan, Ndicka, Agbadou, Zogbe; Sangare, Oulai; Pepe, Yalcouye, Diomande; Wahi

Cameroon imaginable starting lineup:

Noukeu; Tchamba, Kotto, Keller; Njoh, Fosso, Nyngue, Ebong, Tchamadeu; Namaso, Mbeumo

We say: Ivory Coast 2-1 Cameroon

Five of the past six encounters betwixt Ivory Coast and Cameroon person produced less than 3 goals, underlining the typically low-scoring quality of this fixture.

However, we expect a departure from that trend, with the hosts expected to prevail successful an entertaining contest.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.