AFCON is set to kick off on the 13th of January, 2024, and it’s already attracting the attention of bettors in Kenya. The first game will be between the hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau on Saturday night. If you’re searching for Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau match betting tips in Kenya, you’re on the right page. Read on as we detail the match and all the possible predictions that could happen on the pitch.
Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau Match Details
Here are some general details to know about the AFCON opening match, including when and where it’ll be played:
General
Details
- Date: 13th January, 2024
- Time: 23:00h
- Stadium: Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé
- Where to watch: TV, online streaming
- Ticket info: 1,300 Ksh to 3,900 Ksh
Predicted Ivory Coast
Lineup
- Sangare, Badra Ali
- Maiga, Habib
- Deli, Simon
- Bailly, Eric
- Konan, Ghislain
- Seri, Jean
- Kessie, Franck
- Serey Die, Geoffroy
- Pepe, Nicolas
- Gradel, Max
- Zaha, Wilfried
Predicted Guinea-Bissau Lineup
- Asvedo Mendes, Jonas
- Encada, Jefferson
- Sori Mane
- Sangante, Opa
- Cande, Fali
- Jorginho
- Braima Cande Nogueira, Jorge
- Cassama, Moreto
- Camara, Panutche
- Brito Silva, Piqueti Djassi
Ivory Coast vs Guinea Bissau Head-to-Head Analysis
The Elephants of Ivory Coast have fared well in previous editions of the African Cup of Nations, reaching at least the round of 16 before getting knocked out. They have also won the title twice. The team defeated Ghana in 1992 and matched again with the Black Stars in the 2015 finals, in which they also came out victorious. On the other hand, Guinea Bissau has been unsuccessful in the AFCON. The team has only qualified on three occasions, and each time, they didn’t go past the group stage.
Notably, the Elephants of Ivory Coast have not been drawn with Guinea Bissau in the history of the AFCON. Both teams have yet to even play any competitive match. However, if they had been drawn together, the football predictions are that Ivory Coast, being more experienced and versatile, would emerge victorious.
The above is true if you consider recent matches between the teams and other countries. Ivory Coast has won a majority of its games in the last nine months, losing only to the likes of Zambia and Senegal. Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau has majorly either lost or drawn against other opponents. However, the team did record victories against Djibouti and Sierra Leone recently.
Key Factors Influencing the Match
To leverage Kenyan betting tips for Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau, you should be aware of factors that can influence the outcomes. Let’s look at some of them:
Venue and Home Advantage
The match will be played at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé, located in the beautiful city of Abidjan. There’s no argument the Elephants will have the home advantage because they’re the host country. When the Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau match kicks off, there’ll be more fans in the stadium supporting the team in orange.
Playing style
Ivory Coast is used to an all-out attack play system, with Jean-Louis Gasset, the French international, as their head coach. According to Kenya football predictions, the team is expected to attack outrightly from the flanks with the wingers. Then, they’ll attempt crosses to be converted by the top striker using the primary 4-3-3 formation.
Guinea Bissau are more stationed with a possessive kind of play, with Baciro Candé as their head coach. The team interchanges beaten attack and defense following the tone of the game. Notably, Guinea Bissau uses the 4-3-2-1 formation, with the two center midfielders acting as pivots and overlapping the right and left wing, respectively. The team also has a positioned center defensive midfielder.
Going by their style of play, the Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau football prediction is that the Elephants will take on the offensive. Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau may be forced to defend their goal for most of the game.
Expected formations and tactical setups
The Elephants are expected to use their primary 4-3-3 formation, with the Zan’s Wilfred and Pepe Nicholas leading the attack. Then, Frank Kessie is likely to be in the attacking midfield position along with Jean Seri. These are quality players who march on the field for top teams in Europe. Hence, you can expect them to perform well in their positions.
Compared to Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau has fewer expert players. The team’s leading striker is Balde Mama, who plays for Lyon in Ligue 1. In midfield, Guinea-Bissau will likely field Briama Cande and Casama Moreto, among other players, and none of them plays in the top leagues in Europe. So, while the team will probably use the 4-2-3-1 formation, which is balanced, they’ll have a weaker tactical setup compared to Ivory Coast.
Betting Tips for Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau Match
For the game between Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau on Saturday night, here are expert betting tips you can go with:
Betting Odds
Bookmakers in Kenya have already rolled out their odds for the Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau match. Notably, the odds primarily go with the football predictions we’ve covered so far. Ivory Coast remains the bookies’ favorite to win after the final whistle.
Let’s consider the 1X2 market. The average odds for Ivory Coast to emerge victorious is on the low side, at around 1.3. Meanwhile, most Kenyan betting sites set Guinea-Bissau odds as high as 17.5. For a draw, the average odds is approximately 6.0.
Following the odds, the Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau football prediction from Kenya bookmakers is that the away team won’t score. The odds for the over 0.5 market for Guinea-Bissau is at 3.0 on average. For over 1.5, it’s a lot higher at 12.0. On the contrary, Ivory Coast’s average odds of scoring one goal is only about 1.1.
Final Thoughts on the Match
The AFCON opening match promises to be an exciting game with so much suspense and emotions. Without debate, Ivory Coast will receive the most support from fans, as the game will be played on home soil. Regarding Kenya betting tips for the Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau match, the predictions largely favor the Elephants. Indeed, considering the difference in strength of both teams, it’s less likely that Guinea-Bissau will come out with a favorable result.
Oluwafemi Michael, a seasoned iGaming writer with nearly a decade of experience, excels in sports betting and casino content. Known for transforming complex gaming topics into engaging, informative narratives, he skillfully blends industry insights with an accessible style.
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