Ivory Coast VS Mozambique

The defending Africa Cup of Nations champions, Ivory Coast, enter this fixture with both pedigree and form firmly on their side. Recent results underline their growing maturity as a tournament team: victories over Oman (2–0), Kenya (3–0) and Seychelles (7–0) highlight attacking efficiency, while clean sheets in four of their last five matches point to defensive solidity. Across this run, the Ivorians have scored 12 goals and conceded just one, reinforcing their status as one of the continent’s most balanced sides. Mozambique, by contrast, arrive with mixed and largely unconvincing momentum. They have managed just one win in their last five outings, conceding nine goals in that spell, including a heavy 4–1 defeat to Angola. While draws against Chad and narrow scorelines against stronger opposition show some resilience, their overall numbers suggest difficulty in sustaining defensive concentration against elite sides. The historical record further strengthens Ivory Coast’s case. In five previous meetings, the Ivorians remain unbeaten, recording three wins and two draws, including a dominant 3–0 victory in their most recent encounter. Mozambique have never beaten Ivory Coast in a competitive fixture and have often struggled to contain their physicality and attacking depth.