Ivory Coast and Chad Set for Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier Clash

The Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny will host a critical fixture in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifying rounds as Ivory Coast takes on Chad. Scheduled for Tuesday, this match will conclude the group stage efforts for both teams vying for a position in the 2025 AFCON tournament.

Ivory Coast’s aspirations to lead Group G have hit a snag following successive losses, with the latest setback being a 1-0 defeat against Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. This match saw a single goal from Young African Sports Club‘s forward, which clinched the win for Zambia shortly before halftime.

Despite their recent dip in form, Ivory Coast had a promising start to their qualifying campaign with victories over Zambia, Chad, and Sierra Leone. Their current form places them second in Group F with nine points, securing their place in the next year’s tournament in Morocco.

Chad, on the other hand, remains winless in the qualifiers and is positioned at the bottom of Group G. Their most recent match resulted in a 1-1 draw against Sierra Leone at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium. Although they managed to level the score with a penalty, their performance leaves much to be desired as they seek their first win in the campaign.

Ivory Coast’s head coach may opt to refresh the start by adjusting the forward lineup due to the team’s recent goal drought in their last two matches. Potential lineup changes could include 27-year-old players looking to prove themselves in the forward positions.

Chad’s coach is expected to stick with the lineup that showed promise in the match against Sierra Leone. The team has struggled to find the net throughout the qualifiers, scoring only once and conceding four goals.

This match represents a last chance for Chad to make a mark in this qualification phase, while Ivory Coast players will be hoping to regain momentum and finish as group winners. With Ivory Coast’s solid track record at home, including their win against Nigeria to claim the 2023 AFCON title, they are favorites to secure a win.