Nigeria vs Ivory Coast | Africa Cup of Nations (11.02.2023, 20:00)

This Saturday, at the grand stage of the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, football fans around the world will witness an epic showdown between the national teams of Jordan and Qatar in the grand final of this edition of the Asian Cup.

The journey of the Jordanian national team in this tournament has been nothing short of remarkable, exceeding all expectations and surpassing their initial objectives. Despite a somewhat modest performance in the group stage, where they managed to secure “only” four points out of a possible nine, they have showcased their true prowess in the knockout rounds. In the round of 16, they displayed resilience and determination to eliminate Iraq with a thrilling 3-2 victory. Their journey continued with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Tajikistan, setting the stage for a monumental upset in the semi-finals as they stunned South Korea with a commanding 2-0 victory.

However, standing in their path to glory is the formidable Qatar national team, who have been on an unbeatable run throughout the tournament. Under the guidance of coach Bartolomeu Marquez, Qatar has showcased an unwavering commitment to success, exemplified by their flawless record of victories. In the quarter-finals, they displayed their mettle by prevailing over Uzbekistan in a tense penalty shootout after a hard-fought 2-1 draw. In the semi-finals, they delivered another sensational performance by defeating the tournament favorites, Iran, with a narrow 3-2 victory, showcasing their resilience and determination.

As the two teams prepare to clash on the hallowed turf of the Lusail Iconic Stadium, anticipation is at an all-time high. Both sides will be driven by a burning desire to etch their names in the annals of football history by lifting the prestigious Asian Cup trophy. It promises to be an electrifying encounter filled with drama, passion, and moments of brilliance as Jordan and Qatar battle for continental supremacy on the grandest stage of them all.

Form Guide

Nigeria DWWWWD

Nigeria enters this match after a 1-1 draw against South Africa in the Africa Cup of Nations.

During the game, Nigeria had 40% possession and managed 14 shots on goal, with 6 of them on target. William Troost-Ekong (67′) was the only player to score for Nigeria. South Africa had 14 attempts at goal, with 5 of them on target. Teboho Mokoena (90′) scored for South Africa. Nigeria eventually won the match after a tense 4-2 penalty shootout.

In the last 6 fixtures involving Nigeria, fewer than three goals were scored per game on average. Nigeria scored a total of 7 goals, while their opponents scored a combined total of 2 goals.

Ivory Coast WLLDWW

Ivory Coast will enter this game after securing a 1-0 victory against DR Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations.

During the match, Ivory Coast had 57% possession and attempted 14 shots on goal, with 2 of them on target. Sébastien Haller (65′) scored the only goal for Ivory Coast. On the other hand, DR Congo managed 7 shots on goal, with 2 on target.

In their last six matches, Ivory Coast has scored a total of 6 goals while conceding 7 goals in return.

Nigeria vs Ivory Coast Predicted XI

Nigeria Predicted XI: Nwabili; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Sanusi, Iwobi, Onyeka, Aina; Lookman, Simon; Osimhen.

Ivory Coast Predicted XI: Fofana; Aurier, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; S. Fofana, Sangare, Kessie; Kouame, Haller, Boga.  

Prediction

It seems likely that both Ivory Coast and Nigeria will find the back of the net in this match, although predicting a definite winner is challenging.

Considering the circumstances, we anticipate a closely contested game that could ultimately end in a draw. Therefore, we predict a final score of 1-1 when the referee concludes the match.