Elephants target third straight win in Afcon qualifiers

Reigning Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) champions Ivory Coast will chase a third straight win in Group G of the qualifiers for the 2025 tournament when they host Sierra Leone at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro.

Kick-off will be at 9pm CAT on Friday 11 October.

Ivory Coast established their dominance in the group last month with successive 2-0 wins over Zambia (home) and Chad (away) – with the two results achieved on the back of three goals by Jean-Philippe Krasso.

Sierra Leone, meanwhile, managed just one point in September’s block of fixtures with a 0-0 draw at home to Chad and 2-3 defeat away to Zambia.

Elephants coach Emerse Fae – who took charge of the team in the course of their Afcon triumph earlier this year – recently revealed that a desire to prove that their Nations Cup win was not a fluke.

“I have big ambitions. First, it is crucial to qualify for the next Afcon and then win the tournament,” said Fae.

“Many believe our previous victory was merely due to luck, as it took just four wins to be crowned champions. Additionally, winning on home soil made it easier. Therefore, we are keen to qualify for the next edition and win it to demonstrate that our success was not merely a fluke.”

The Ivorian tactician added, “I am convinced that our team is full of exceptional talent. My goal is to form a formidable group that instils fear, as we [Ivory Coast] did in 2006, and that brings titles back to Ivory Coast.

“I want to be remembered as the young coach who surprised everyone by turning the situation around, revitalising a country, and bringing joy back to its people. We will work tirelessly to ensure the sustainability of this legacy for Ivory Coast.”

In head-to-head stats, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone have met in eight matches dating back as far as 1972. The Elephants boast an unbeaten record in the rivalry (six wins, two draws).

The teams last met in January 2022 in an Afcon finals Group E match in Douala, playing out a 2-2 draw: Ivory Coast twice went ahead via Sebastien Haller and Nicolas Pepe, but Sierra Leone levelled via Musa Kamara and Alhaji Kamara.