Morocco V Ivory Coast
Friday 28 June 2019 – 18:00 Kick-Off
International: Africa Cup of Nations, Group D
Pick: Both Teams to Score – 21/20 Betfair
Preview: It was as expected in the opening games in Group D. Morocco and Ivory Coast were favourites to overcome Namibia and South Africa respectively, and both duly obliged with 1-0 successes. Now the two strongest sides in the section battle each other in the knowledge that three points here would put them in a commanding position to progress from a strong group.
A defeat, though, wouldn’t spell disaster for either. Therefore we may not see as much nerves as we did in their respective openers, which could in turn enhance the prospects of a more entertaining contest inside the Al Salam Stadium, Cairo.
Recent Trends
- Six of Morocco’s past seven matches have produced fewer than three goals.
- It is now five wins in six for Ivory Coast, who have lost only one of their previous thirteen games (W8 D4 L1).
- This will be the 14th meeting between the two nations, with Ivory Coast winning more times overall (W5 D5 L3) but Morocco claiming victory in each of the last two, winning the most recent 2-0 in 2017.
Morocco Preview
It was of utmost importance that they claimed all three points from what was likely to be their easiest fixture in a tricky group, and Morocco achieved that objective at least. The pressure on them would have been enormous ahead of their remaining two games had they not managed to do so. The hope now, then, is that they play with more composure and freedom in this next game, firmly in the knowledge this isn’t a must win scenario.
Significant improvements are needed moving forward though, especially in attacking phases. As comfortable as they were throughout much of the game – Namibia rarely troubled their defence, while Morocco dictated almost all of the play and controlled the midfield – they didn’t cause enough problems in the final third. Most of their many efforts on goals were from distance and off-target, with Hakim Ziyech’s influence limited to a few wayward strikes.
Whether it was first game nerves or simply a team low on confidence following a poor spell of form of late, it simply didn’t click for Herve Renard’s players, who were reliant on a fortuitous own goal in the dying minutes to secure them a much needed win. They may not be as fortunate second time around, against a much stronger opponent who will certainly ask them a lot more questions than Namibia ever did.
The victory did at least stop the rot, with the Atlas Lions falling to three successive defeats prior to this tournament. Two of those were against fellow African teams in Gambia (0-1) and Zambia (2-3).
Ivory Coast Preview
The margin was certainly slim but few could argue the Ivory Coast weren’t good value for the three points against South Africa. The only strike of the game arrived just past the hour mark as Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia latched on to a Max Gradel pass before cooly slotting the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper to seal a crucial 1-0 win. Like their opponents, they too will be breathing a little easier heading into their next match.
Despite seeing less of the ball throughout the 90 minutes, it was the Ivory Coast who created almost all of the few scoring opportunities created by either side and could have won with more comfort had they displayed a little more clinical finishing. Nicolas Pepe came close on a couple of occasions through set-pieces but rarely troubled the goal otherwise.
Meanwhile, Wilfred Zaha was a mere spectator, beginning on the bench before being introduced late into proceedings. Zaha may come back into the side here, in order to inject more guile and thrust into the attack.
Either way, The Elephants should be in confident mood: the narrow win against South Africa was their fifth win in the past six matches (W5 L1), and coach Ibrahim Kamara will be buoyant about his team’s prospect of obtaining some sort of result in this fixture in the knowledge his side have only suffered one loss in its past thirteen games (W8 D4 L1).
Betting Tips
Both Teams to Score – 21/20 Betfair
Betting Summary
Neither team seemed to fully assert themselves in their respective opening matches, perhaps aware that any potential slip up could prove costly in a group that appeared too close to call. With three points on the board for each of them, we may see both sets of players lay down their inhibitions a little here and flex their offensive muscles. Because both seemingly played within themselves first time out.
Ivory Coast don’t lose very many games – one in the last thirteen, in fact – and with what I feel is a more balanced team, are rightly favourites here. Morocco are a dangerous outfit, though, and will surely improve upon what was a surprisingly timid attacking effort in the first game. I quite fancy these two sides with plenty of firepower to have a go at each other, well aware that a loss wouldn’t be a complete disaster. So both teams to score certainly appeals at odds-against.
