Africa Cup of Nations: Ivory Coast Chase Maiden Win

Ivory Coast vs South Africa

The Africa Cup of Nations pits these two together for their opening contest as the 2015 winners try and regain their crown as Kings of Africa against the 1996 champions.

Bafana Bafana take on the Ivory Coast for only a seventh time in their history and the Ivorians have yet to beat them.

They are among the best sides competing for AFCON 2019 and it should be quite a spectacle over the next month with Africa Cup of Nations highlights galore and big names on show.

Talking Points

Well, it’s going to be hot for one thing.

So much so that serious concerns have been raised about the well-being of players in Egypt, where temperatures may reach 40C (104F) during some games.

Alongside that, this is considered the group of death with Morocco and Namibia making up the line-up.

After winning the Nations Cup in 2015, Ivory Coast seem to have had a drastic dip in their performances, getting knocked out in the group stages of the 2017 AFCON, while the Elephants also failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

South Africa have had to recover from a spell in the doldrums too after failing to qualify for this tournament two years ago, as well as missing out on a World Cup spot.

However, the return of English manager Stuart Baxter has helped to steady the ship and the Bafana Bafana were solid in booking a trip to Egypt.

Who to watch out for then?

opacity 0

CLICK HERE
TO SEE UPDATED ODDS

2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Well, Lille’s winger Nicolas Pepe is on Bayern Munich’s radar after scoring 23 goals in Ligue 1 last season and Ivory Coast, with Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha on the other flank, could be the team to watch.

In the engine room, Fulham’s Jean-Michael Seri and AC Milan’s Franck Kessie are the Ivoirians’ main conductors in a combative midfield which should help ensure the Elephants are in the mix in the latter stages.

They can also still call on the likes of Tottenham defender Serge Aurier, Toulouse midfielder Max Gradel and Swansea striker Wilfried Bony.

South Africa have only managed to get past the group stage on one occasion since the competition in 2002.

After starting out with an excellent 2-0 win in Nigeria in qualifying, they registered two more victories and three draws to advance to this summer special.

They’ve been plagued by injuries in key areas too, with Itumeleng Khune not fit enough after missing most of the season with Kaizer Chiefs, while Keagan Dolly has also been ruled out with a groin injury.

Baxter is likely to stick with his cautious approach, being the underdog in this game, although playing on the counter-attack could benefit the South Africans. Percy Tau, who claimed the Proximus League Player of the Season award in Belgium, is expected to partner Lebo Mothiba, who banged in 11 goals in what was a successful season with Strasbourg, helping his team win the Coupe de la Ligue.

Their preparations have not been ideal. South Africa saw their planned final warm-up game for the tournament against Angola last Wednesday postponed at the last minute.

With the overall difference in quality added to that, I can’t see past the Elephants gaining a maiden success over South Africa in the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.

History

These nations have met on six occasions – all of them since 1994 – and the Ivorians are yet to taste success.

Four of the games have ended draws with South Africa winning the other two.

South Africa were 2-0 winners in a friendly in November 2014 – Bongani Zungu and David Zulu the scorers – and drew 1-1 in a friendly three years before that.

They last met in this competition in 2003 when South Africa won 2-1, courtesy of goals from Shaun Bartlett and Siyabonga Nomvethe with Bonaventure Kalou on target for the Ivorians.