AFCON: Nigeria vs Côte d'Ivoire Prediction

BACKGROUND

Nigeria

Since a hugely disappointing start to their AFCON campaign, Nigeria have since transformed into a formidable "tournament team," boasting an impressive defensive record. Consecutive clean sheet victories, including one against their forthcoming final opponents, propelled them through the group stage. They followed this with a composed 1-0 triumph over Angola in the quarter-finals, preceded by a 2-0 victory against Cameroon. Although their dramatic penalty shootout win over South Africa was tense, they managed to narrowly advance.

Côte d'Ivoire

Heading into the final of a major tournament, Côte d'Ivoire are without a permanent manager. Following their 4-0 thrashing by Equatorial Guinea in the group stages, former Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux coach Jean-Louis Gasset parted company with the Ivorian FA. Despite the seemingly inevitable elimination, they managed to sneak through as the fourth-best third-placed team.

Remarkably, under the guidance of former Reading midfielder Emerse Fae, they proceeded to defeat defending champions Senegal on penalties, the only team to have won all three group games, before securing an extra-time win over an impressive Mali side in the quarter-finals. Their most comprehensive performance of the tournament occurred on Wednesday evening when they clinched a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

PREDICTED LINE-UPS

Nigeria

PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Nwabali; Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Bassey; Osayi-Samuel, Onyeka, Iwobi, Aina; Simon, Osimhen, Lookman

Côte d'Ivoire

PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Y. Fofana; Singo, Boly, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Seri, S. Fofana; Gradel, Haller, Adingra

PREDICTION

While Nigeria may be confident in their defensive capabilities, they face an Ivorian attack reliant on individual moments of brilliance, or occasional fortune. Nigeria may hold the edge in terms of personnel, but Côte d'Ivoire's home advantage and apparent destiny level the playing field somewhat. Having clashed in the group stages, with Nigeria securing a narrow victory through a William Troost-Ekong penalty, another tense and cautious affair is expected. Under 2.5 goals is the tip.