2019 Africa Cup of Nations – Ivory Coast vs South Africa Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Ivory Coast vs South Africa taking place? Monday 24th June, 2019 – 15:30 (UK)
Where is Ivory Coast vs South Africa taking place? Al Salam Stadium, Cairo
What television channel is Ivory Coast vs South Africa on? Eurosport 2
Where can I stream Ivory Coast vs South Africa? Subscribers can stream the match via Eurosport Player
Where can I get tickets for Ivory Coast vs South Africa? https://www.footballticketnet.com/2019-africa-cup-of-nations
THE TEAM NEWS
IVORY COAST
- Ivory Coast are two-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations having triumphed in 1992 and 2015, although they exited the tournament disappointingly at the group stage in 2017.
- They finished runners-up to Guinea in their qualifying group, opening the campaign with a 2-3 home defeat against the table-toppers but remaining unbeaten thereafter.
- Ivory Coast have an exciting attacking unit containing the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Wilfried Zaha, Max Gradel and Maxwel Cornet but the central defence is weakened by the absence of Manchester United’s Eric Bailly though injury.
SOUTH AFRICA
- South Africa return to the finals having failed to qualify in 2017, and the 1996 champions have only managed to get past the group stage on one occasion since 2002.
- They finished second in their qualifying group behind Nigeria but went through the six-game campaign unbeaten with three wins and three draws, and they won qualification with a vital 2-1 away win in Libya on the final matchday.
- South Africa saw their planned final warm-up game for the tournament against Angola last Wednesday postponed at the last minute meaning they come to Egypt having played just one pre-tournament friendly since their last competitive match in March.
THE PREDICTION
Ivory Coast will look to put the disappointment of an early exit in the 2017 tournament behind them with a good start against a resolute South Africa team who conceded just two goals during their qualifying campaign. South Africa appear to lack potency in attack so they are unlikely to want to get into an open match against an Ivory Coast team that has dangerous attacking flair with the likes of Wilfried Zaha in their ranks. South Africa took four points from Nigeria during qualifying and with good organisation in their ranks, they can possibly take a point from this match.
