Fae keen to secure qualification in Monrovia

Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae is looking for another win against Sierra Leone on Tuesday, 15 October that will guarantee their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

The defending champions cruised to a comfortable 4-1 victory over the Leone Stars in the reverse fixture at the Laurent Pokou Stadium on 11 October to maintain their perfect record in group G.

Fae's side have a five-point cushion over second-placed Zambia after recording back-to-back 2-0 wins over the Copper Bullets and Chad in September.

Maximum points at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium will ensure a top-two finish for the Elephants ahead of next month's final pair of qualifiers as the gap to Les Sao currently stands at seven points and there will only be six left to play for.

Ivory Coast are unbeaten in their last seven matches since lifting the coveted Afcon trophy for the third time in February this year, picking up five wins and two draws.

Sierra Leone have a solitary point to show for the efforts in qualifying thus far and they bring up the rear in the group, one point behind Chad, who are also winless.

Amidu Karim's side kicked off proceedings with a 0-0 draw against Les Sao in Monrovia on 6 September, although they can take heart from the 3-2 defeat to Zambia in Ndola four days later.

The Leone Stars responded swiftly to going behind against Chipolopolo on two occasions before they were ultimately undone by Kings Kangwa's winner five minutes from time.

WHAT WAS SAID

Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae

"We've had a good start because the objective was to win both matches in the first two rounds. Before we left, I explained to the players that our aim in October was to qualify for Afcon, so that we could eventually test other players in November and rotate the team. However, the goal for the next stage remains the same."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sierra Leone - The West Africans will be pinning their hopes on Amadou Bakayoko to cause an upset against Ivory Coast in the absence of Augustus Kargbo. The 28-year-old striker led the line in San-Pedro after Kargbo sustained an injury during training before the clash and he'll be looking to add to his tally of three goals following his strike in the 2-2 draw with Burkina Faso in a 2026 World Cup qualifier four months ago.

Ivory Coast - Franck Kessie played a starring role in the first meeting, having doubled his team's lead on 51 minutes before making it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 76th minute. The 27-year-old midfielder missed out on the chance to bag his first hat-trick for the Elephants after failing to convert a spot-kick in the first half.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Matches - 7

Sierra Leone wins - 0

Ivory Coast wins - 4

Draws - 3