Kick-off: 1530, 24/06/2019
Stadium: Al Salam Stadium
TV: Eurosport
Ivory Coast have added some exciting young talent to several proven stalwarts and can kick off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign by seeing off South Africa.
Bafana Bafana are also a likeable bunch, with decent discipline at the back and a good work ethic, but may just lack the class of their opponents.
It is 11/10 for Les Elephants to get off to a flying start in Group D and that is our initial Ivory Coast vs South Africa prediction.
A Look At Ivory Coast’s Betting Odds
Ivory Coast were crowned champions in 2015 and can still call on the likes of Tottenham defender Serge Aurier, Toulouse midfielder Max Gradel and Swansea striker Wilfried Bony from that squad.
The days of superstar leaders such as Didier Drogba and Yaya Toure may have gone, but the next generation of skill-based players have come through nicely in recent years.
In midfield, Franck Kessie earned rave reviews for AC Milan last term, while Toulouse youngster Ibrahim Sangare has been linked with a €25million switch to Spurs or Everton.
Up front, Lille winger Nicolas Pepe and Lyon’s Maxwel Cornet are both reportedly big-money targets for Liverpool.
With Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa marksman Jonathan Kodjia also available, head coach Ibrahim Kamara has plenty of attacking options in Cairo.
Looking at the Ivory Coast vs South Africa odds, we like 13/5 for Les Elephants to oblige and over 2.5 goals in the game.
A Look At South Africa’s Betting Odds
South Africa have had to recover from a spell in the doldrums 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.
After starting out with an excellent 2-0 win in Nigeria, they registered two more victories and three draws to advance.
Striker Percy Tau was voted the leading player in Belgium’s second tier last season, while Lebo Mothiba bagged eight goals in 27 Ligue 1 games for French outfit Strasbourg.
Landing a tough draw alongside Ivory Coast and Morocco may temper expectations, but we think they can have their moments.
Let’s go with 33/4 for Les Elephants to win a competitive contest 2-1 to finish off our Ivory Coast vs South Africa betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
IVORY COAST 4-1 Zambia – Kodjia, Seri, Cornet, Bony
SOUTH AFRICA 0-0 Ghana
Head-to-head: South Africa 2-0 Ivory Coast, South Africa 1-1 Ivory Coast
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