Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau – AFCON: Live rating, crew information, updates

Ivory Coast’s wingers – Boga and Bamba – are inflicting all kinds of bother as they proceed to create openings.

Sangare on the base of midfield is then cleansing something up that comes via.

It seems to be sizzling out in Abidjan, however the house crowd stay in good voice.

Boga goes on a mazy run and beats three gamers. He thinks he is gained a nook nevertheless it’s not given.

The hosts are dominant, however Guinea-Bissau’s entrance three of Mane, Balde and Rodrigues have appeared brilliant.

They’ll hope they’ll catch the Ivory Coast on the counter.

OOH! Nearly one other stunner.

Some neat play from Ivory Coast in midfield – the place Sangare is sitting behind Fofana and Kessie – leads to the Nottingham Forest man taking part in a lofted ball to Krasso.

The striker tries to take it on the volley, and join properly together with his left foot, nevertheless it goes over the bar.

A assured first quarter-hour for the hosts.

It’s continued to be comfy for the hosts for the reason that purpose, with Kessie and Boga wanting significantly harmful.

Take one other have a look at Fofana’s gorgeous opener beneath.

I’ve simply seen one other replay of that purpose and it was actually nice ft from Fofana, who managed to create area for the shot regardless of having three gamers round him.

Guinea-Bissau then break and Balde goes for the spectacular after Cande delivers his cross, however he cannot join together with his bicycle kick.

Fofana jumps on the free ball.

Singo then heads over the crossbar from a nook for Ivory Coast.

What a begin!

Guinea-Bissau give the ball away in defence, Kessie picks it up and lays it off to Fofana.

He shifts the ball onto his proper foot simply exterior the world and curls a pleasant effort previous Djoco and into the highest nook.

The house followers erupt. That’s simply what they wanted.

But the worst doable begin for Guinea-Bissau.

A strong begin from the hosts who’re having many of the poessesion.

They drive an early nook and Kessie delivers a pleasant ball, however Djoco involves punch properly.

And we’re off!

Eight minutes later than scheduled.

Here we go…

Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare is the one English-based gamers in Ivory Coast’s beginning line-up.

His team-mates on the City Ground – Serge Aurier and Willy Boly – are on the bench and joined by former Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe.

The house crowd are actually making themsleves heard right here.

Keep a watch on Mama Balde and Mauro Rodrigues within the front-line for Guinea-Bissau. They are prone to be the principle risks to the hosts.

We’re working a little bit bit delayed after quite a lot of speeches from dignatories, together with CAF president Patrice Motsepe, who promised ‘the very best AFCON’ ever.

We had been meant to be kicking off at 8PM nevertheless it seems to be like there are a number of extra displays and reveals simply but.

A reminder {that a} host nation hasn’t gained this match since 2006 so the Ivory Coast will hope to buck that pattern.

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau is likely to be the minnows, however they matched their opponents report in qualifying.

The nationwide anthems are simply being sung now.

International tournaments could be a reputation-maker or breaker.

AFCON isn’t any totally different. Herve Renard and Aliou Cisse have gained nice acclaim with their latest successes within the match and on the World Cup.

It’s a stomping floor for grizzled veterans in addition to up-and-coming bosses. Lead your crew to glory and your fame within the homeland will final a lifetime.

And there’s loads of acquainted faces at this 12 months’s match.

Read our full story beneath…

Alongside Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea are in group A of the match.

Nigeria, regardless of struggling in latest instances, are literally ranked above the Ivory Coast on the planet rating at 42 in comparison with the their place in forty ninth.

Equatorial Guinea are down in 88th and, as talked about, Guinea-Bissau are world No 103.

Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has simply been giving a speech to the gang in attendance on the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

30 Premier League stars shall be competing within the Ivory Coast over the following month, together with a number of gamers from the EFL.

Newcastle, Man City and Burnley are the one three high flight groups to have no-one away.

Mail Sport has cleared up which gamers every membership shall be with out beneath…

Kick off is below half-hour away.

Guinea-Bissau have by no means gained a recreation at AFCON so it should be troublesome, however they are going to capable of play with out strain.

Meanwhile, solely thrice in historical past has a bunch nation misplaced the opening match of the match.

For context, there’s been 33 editions of AFCON.

Good query! This is the second time in a row it is occurred too, with the 2021 version additionally happening in 2022.

This is as a result of the match was initially scheduled to happen in the summertime of 2023, nevertheless it was postponed by the Confederation of African Football because of the antagonistic summer season climate circumstances within the Ivory Coast.

After 120 minutes of goalless motion, Senegal and Egypt went to penalties.

Sadio Mane’s scored the profitable penalty after some Edouard Mendy heroics as Senegal gained 4-2 on spot kicks.

You can relive the motion from that dramatic night beneath…

They look set to match Ivory Coast’s 4-3-3 formation.

Bolton’s Carlos Mendes Gomes is on the bench, however there aren’t any English-based gamers within the beginning XI.

They arrange as follows: Djoco; Jefferson Encada, Sangante, Djalo, Cande; Cassama, Bikel, Alfa Semedo; Rodrigues, Balde, Mane

The minnows are ranked 103rd on the planet.

Although they are going to be outnumbered, there’s nonetheless some assist for them tonight.

It’s the second you’ve got all been ready for.

Haller is absent! That’s a giant early blow for the hosts who line-up as follows.

(4-3-3) – Fofana; Singo, Diomande, Ndicka, Konan; Kessie, Sangare, Fofana; Boga, Krasso, Bamba

They are certain to be backed by a boisterous and supportive crowd this night.

Jean-Louis Gasset can name upon a number of well-known names for this match after choosing a star-studded squad.

However, one notable omission is Wilfried Zaha, who was snubbed by the Frenchman regardless of persevering with to impress for Galatasaray this season.

Key males Franck Kessie, Seko Fofana and Sebastian Haller are prone to have a significant impression if their nation are to achieve success.

Their squad may be present in full beneath:

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers, France), Charles Folly (ASEC Mimosas, Ivory Coast), Badra Ali Sangare (Sekhukhune United, South Africa).

Defenders: Serge Aurier, Willy Boly (each Nottingham Forest, England), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Ghislain Konan (Al Fayha, Saudi Arabia), Evans Ndicka (Roma, Italy), Odilon Kossounou (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Wilfried Singo (Monaco, France).

Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Lazare Amani (Union Saint-Gilloise, Belgium), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest, England), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull City, England).

Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo, Spain), Jeremie Boga (Nice, France), Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Karim Konate (RB Salzburg, Austria), Christian Kouame (Fiorentina, Italy), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep, Turkey), Oumar Diakite (Reims, France), Nicolas Pepe (Trabzonspor, Turkey).

It seems to be like a proper get together out in Abidjan proper now!

Tonight’s recreation kicks off at 8PM and it’s happening on the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, certainly one of two venues within the Ivory Coast’s largest metropolis.

This stadium is called after the nation’s president, Alassane Outtara.

Four different venues will even be used – in Yamoussoukro, Bouake, Korhogo and San Pedro.

The Allassane Outtara Olympic Stadium already seems to be to be full of the opening ceremony at the moment happening.

Starting in the present day, the four-week match will run throughout till the ultimate on February 11.

This 12 months’s AFCON is happening within the Ivory Coast, with the hosts one of many robust favourites to elevate the trophy.

24 groups are competing throughout six teams of 4, with the highest two in every group, plus the 4 best-ranked third-placed groups progressing to the knockout phases.

Senegal are the reigning champions after beating Egypt on penalties within the last two years in the past.

It guarantees to be a cracking occasion and Mail Sport has obtained you lined.

After months of anticipation, AFCON is lastly upon us.

We’ll be bringing you all of the build-up, crew information and reside protection from the primary recreation of the match that sees hosts Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau.

You do not need to miss it!