Equatorial Guinea vs Ivory Coast Predictions

• Ivory Coast have won six of their last eight competitive matches.
• Equatorial Guinea have conceded only nine goals in their last ten internationals.
• Ivory Coast have not scored more than three goals in any game for two and a half years.

Ivorians may coast to victory in opener

Ivory Coast are likely to open Group E with a win over Equatorial Guinea in Douala, but it may not be as emphatic as the oddsmakers expect.

Around a two-goal margin seems to be the consensus of the market makers with the Elephants still a powerful force in their own continent, despite being nowhere near as strong as they were a few years ago when they monopolised most of the star talent in African football.

Equatorial Guinea have no stars at all and seem to be relying on mainly Spanish-based players from the lower leagues. They do seem to have the sort of defensive organisation that other minnows in this tournament don’t possess, so this may not be the cake walk that a few anticipate.

Elephants can be ponderous in their play at times

Ivory Coast have a strong spine and enough creativity in wide areas to cause most teams problems on their day, but they can also be a bit ponderous in their build-up play, which allows teams to regroup and get numbers behind the ball.

Although they have appeared as hosts before, the Nzalang Nacional qualified for AFCON for the first time and demonstrated their formula to frustrate bigger nations in World Cup qualifying too, when they conceded only twice in five games after a chastening 3-0 loss to Tunisia in their opener.

An ability to limit damage could serve them well in this game and that’s why we are taking the Elephants to come away with the points in a 2-0 success.