Date: Thursday 17th January, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm
Stadium Stade Alassane Quattara
Referee
Goal Scorer:
Ivory Coast
Sebastian Haller was a notable absentee in last weekend's opening game and the 29-year-old striker is a doubt for Thursday's clash as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.
While Haller is yet to find the back of the net for Dortmund in the Bundesliga this season, he has scored in three of his last four games for Ivory Coast since last October.
Krasso was trusted to spearhead the Les Elephants' attack against Guinea-Bissau and the 26-year-old should team up with Jeremie Boga and Celta Vigo forward Jonathan Bamba.
Fofana netted the opening of the 2023 AFCON with a brilliant curler and the 28-year-old should retain his role in the centre of the park, alongside the experienced duo of Ibrahim Sangare and skipper Franck Kessie.
Sporting Lisbon man Ousmane Diomande made his AFCON debut at the weekend and should form the centre-back pairing with Evan Ndicka, while Wilfried Singo and Ghislain Konan should take up the full-back roles once again.
Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:
Y Fofana; Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, S Fofana; Boga, Krasso, Bamba
Nigeria
Alhassan Yusuf was stretchered off injured midway through the second half in Nigeria's opener against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday and the Royal Antwerp midfielder is a major doubt for Thursday's game.
Should he fail to shake off the injury, Southampton's Joe Aribo should come into the fray for the Super Eagles, forming the midfield trio with the Premier League duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi.
Osimhen opened his account at the AFCON with his equaliser against the Nzalang Nacional and the Napoli man should spearhead Nigeria's attack once again, alongside Moses Simon and 26-year-old Ademola Lookman.
At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged back four of Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong and Porto full-back Zaidu Sanusi, with Chippa United man Stanley Nwabali starting between the sticks once again.
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Nwabali; Aina, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Sanusi; Onyeka, Aribo, Iwobi; Simon, Lookman, Osimhen
Prediction: Ivory Coast 2-2 Nigeria
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