AFCON 2024: Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau Preview: Kick-off time, TV channel & squad news
Today, January 13th, 2024, Ivory Coast, who are the host of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, will play against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday. Guinea-Bissau may be considered as an underdog in this year’s competition.
The match will be played at the Olympique Alassane Ouattara Stadium, marking the first game of the 2024 AFCON. It will be a decisive game for the Elephants as their victory can set them up on the Group A table, which includes Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, as well as the opponent they face today, Guinea-Bissau.
The Ivory Coast Elephants are hoping to get a win at home against Guinea-Bissau today. However, this might not be as easy as it looks, and even the Elephants’ coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, confirmed this in his recent interview.
He stated, “We cannot underestimate Guinea-Bissau in these type of starting games, there is always a risk that the opponent gets motivated and causes an upset or shock.”
As expected, Guinea-Bissau will get their motivation from the 1-1 draw against Gabon in the opening match of 2017, and now they may expect to give more than what is expected of them in this 2024 AFCON.
“We know we can make an impact against the hosts,” stated coach Baciro Cande of Guinea-Bissau.
The teams of Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau are in the same Group A as Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. Nigeria’s match will be played a day after the matches between Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau.
Additionally, there will be matches between Egypt and Mozambique, as well as Ghana and Cape Verde in the same schedule.
Team news and squads for AFCON 2024.
Ivory Coast team news & squads:
Ivory Coast possible starting XI: Fofana, Aurier, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, S. Fofana, Sangare, Krasso, Boga, Bamba.
Sebastien Haller and Simon Adingra are said to have fitness issues and might be rested against the opponent. Nicolas Pepe, who struggled with a knee injury, has been involved in the squad but might not be in the starting XI but definitely will be in the substitute
It is quite shocking how Eric Bailly and Wilfried Zaha are not called into action for AFCON this year despite their performance in their respective clubs.
Guinea-Bissau team news & squads: All eyes will be on Guinea-Bissau star man Mama Balde, who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Lyon, on loan from Ligue 2 club Troyes.
He will be a problem for the Elephants’ defenders, extrapolating from his recent performances for Lyon and his national team.
On the Guinea-Bissau side, the team’s only worry is Nanu, the defender also known as Eulanio Angelo Chipela Gomes, who got injured during training.
Guinea-Bissau possible XI: Mendes, Cande, S. Mane, Djalo, C. Mane, Semedo, Cassama, Rodrigues, Quizera, Gano, Balde.
How to watch Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau:
- KICK OFF TIME AND DATE: 8pm BST/GMT on Saturday, January 13, 2024Â
- VENUE: Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan
- TV CHANNEL: Sky Sports.