Prediction: Morocco vs Ivory Coast

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals 

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two nations who are looking to secure a route out of Group D, Morocco will face off against Ivory Coast in Cairo on Friday evening.

Morocco

Starting with Morocco, although the Atlas Lions did manage to get their African Cup of Nations campaign off to a winning start last weekend, they were far from convincing and needed an 89th-minute own goal to come past Namibia. Despite many believing that Hervé Renard’s side had made some needed improvements after slumping to the bottom of Group B at last summers World Cup finals, their form heading into this year’s African finals has been highly worrying for fans around Marrakech. Losing three of their last four appearances across all competitions and desperate to surpass their quarter-finals finish out in Gabon two years ago, Morocco’s French boss will be boosted by the Reds’ recent success against their opponents on Friday evening. Including a 1-0 win the last time they faced off against Ivory Coast back in the 2017 groups stages, the Atlas Lions are unbeaten in their last three matchups between the two nations and more impressive, they have came away with clean sheets in each of those ties.

Team News

The Atlas Lions players are fully fit for the clash against Ivory Coast they have no injury concerns or suspension issue for their second game of the AFCON tournament.

Ivory Coast

As for the Ivory Coast, after picking up a 1-0 win over South Africa in their Group B opener, the mood in their camp couldn’t be any higher. After managing to pick up just two points out in Gabon back in 2017 and failing to make it to the knockout stage, Les Éléphants have made some much-needed improvements since appointing Head Coach Ibrahim Kamara. Along with opening their African Cup of Nations campaign with an important three points last weekend, they have now won five of their last six matches across all competitions and have tasted defeat just once since January 2018. Along with Aston Villa forward Jonathan Kodjia scoring the winner against South Africa last time out and now finding the net in back-to-back appearances, one man to watch on Friday could be the much sort after, Nicolas Pepe. Enjoying a breakout campaign with Ligue 1 outfit Lille this season, the 24-year-old registered 22 goals in France’s top-tier, finishing second in the overall goalscoring charts.

Team News

Ivory Coast will have a full team to choose from when the play Morocco for their second match of the ongoing tournament in Egypt.

Key Factors to Consider

• Both sides opened their Group B campaign with a 1-0 victory.
• Ivory Coast succumbed to a defeat the last time the two teams met in the Africa Cup of Nations.
• Morocco has kept a clean sheet in all of their last three fixtures against Ivory Coast.
• Each of the last five matches between the two nations have seen under 2.5 goals at full-time.
• Nicolas Pepe bagged 22 Ligue 1 goals this season, the second-best return of any player in France’s top-tier.

Conclusion

While Ivory Coast are clearly heading into Friday’s contest with the better run of results behind them, they have famously struggled when up against Morocco. Failing to win any of their last three matches against Hervé Renard’s side and not registering a goal against them since 2015, we are backing another cagey encounter between the two African giants.

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals 

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: Bet365