Ivory Coast and Cameroon set for Afcon thriller

Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations title defence continues on Sunday with a crucial clash against Cameroon at the Stade de Marrakech in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Kick-off is at 10pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Ivory Coast opened their title defence on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Mozambique, while Cameroon claimed a 1-0 victory over Gabon.

The two sides share top spot in group F as they both sit on three points with an equal goal difference. Victory for either team would be enough to book its spot in the knockout stage of the tournament.

The Elephants enter the clash in good form, having recorded four wins, one draw, and one defeat in their last six competitive matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding just once in the process.

A win for them will be crucial in their attempt to become the first country since Egypt in 2010 to successfully defend the continental crown.

Now under the guidance of newly appointed David Pagou, the Indomitable Lions are looking to reassert their dominance on the continent after agonisingly failing to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

The two sides have met on 21 previous occasions, showing an evenly matched clash. Ivory Coast have a slight edge, registering 10 wins to Cameroon’s nine with two matches drawn.

The Elephants have lost only one of the past five meetings between the two sides in a run dating back to November 2014.

WHAT WAS SAID

Ivorian head coach Emerse Faé believes his side are in for a physical battle, but are not preparing with one specific player in mind.

“For me, Cameroon has always played with a lot of energy. I think it will be a very physical game. I know, I see the way that they play against Gabon, and I think we're going to find a strategy to win tomorrow.

“For me, it's not a problem of one player. For me, it's the team. I don't want to say to my players, or be careful to one player or two players, because it's a team.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ivory Coast - Amad Diallo netted the winner for the Elephants in the opening game of the tournament and now has two goals in 11 appearances for his national team. The Manchester United star will look to push his side over the line once more and keep his Cameroonian teammate at bay.

Cameroon - Bryan Mbeumo will look to get the better of fellow Manchester United teammate Diallo on Sunday. After failing to find the back of the net in Cameroon’s opener, he will be itching to get on the scoresheet against his side’s West African rivals.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Ivory Coast wins - 10

Cameroon wins - 9

Draws - 2