Senegal - Ivory Coast predictions and free betting tips [29/01/2024]

Today, on the third day of the round of 16 at the African Cup of Nations, the teams of Senegal and Ivory Coast will play.

Senegal national team

Senegal has proven to be the best team in the African Cup of Nations during the group stage, winning all three matches with a total score of 8:1. In the last group stage match, having already secured a place in the knockout phase, Senegal confidently defeated Guinea 2:0. Goals were scored by Seka at the 61st minute and Ndiaye, who converted a pass from Mane at the 89th minute, thereby confirming their dominance in the group.

In this tournament, Senegal, the current African champion, began with a confident 3:1 victory over Cameroon. Ismaila Sarr, receiving a pass from his namesake Pepe, opened the score, then Diallo and Mane cemented the team's success. In the first round, the team also defeated Gambia 3:0, demonstrating dominance in attack and ball possession. Key figures in the Senegal team are world-class players such as Sadio Mane, Koulibaly, Diallo, and Edouard Mendy, who contribute significantly to the team's play. Senegal is characterised by a strong lineup, skilfully combining experience and youth, and impressive attacking power with players like Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson.

Such a powerful performance in the group stage confirms Senegal's status as one of the main contenders for victory in the African Cup of Nations.

Ivory Coast national team

Ivory Coast, despite a disastrous performance in the last match of the group stage where they suffered a crushing 0:4 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, managed to advance to the knockout stage. Weak defensive play and inefficiency in attack in this match did not allow the team to avoid a meeting with the strongest opponent, Senegal, in the round of 16. Ivory Coast conceded all four goals after the 42nd minute of the game, despite having 68% ball possession and 22 shots on goal.

As tournament hosts, Ivory Coast started with a confident 2:0 victory over Guinea-Bissau, where the team showed strong play and dominated ball possession. However, in the next round, the "elephants" faced defeat against Nigeria, failing to score again, despite having the advantage in ball possession.

Ivory Coast's defence does not look as convincing as expected, despite the presence of experienced former Premier League players like Serge Aurier and Willy Boly, and new leaders like Roma's defender N'Dika. In midfield, the team boasts players like Fofana, Kessie, and Sangare, who add creativity and intensity to the game. However, the team's main young star Adengra has so far failed the tournament due to injury, and the presence of "Arsenal legend" Pepe in the centre of the attack speaks of major problems.

In attack, the team has Haller, but due to his poor form, coach of Ivory Coast is more likely to play Krasso. Previous results of Ivory Coast demonstrate its potential, but at the moment, the team needs to pull together and improve its game for a successful performance in the playoffs against one of the tournament's strongest teams.

Head-to-Head 

In the last match, which took place on 14 January 2023 during the African Nations Championship, Senegal won with a score of 1:0. In a friendly match on 19 September 2017, the teams drew 0:0. The previous encounter on 27 March 2017 also ended in a 1:1 draw. The World Cup 2014 qualifying matches were also quite tense. The match on 16 November 2013 finished 1:1. In the first-round game, Ivory Coast won with a score of 3:1.

Prediction for Senegal - Ivory Coast

The Elephants look like clear underdogs after a disastrous group stage. Ivory Coast finished the last two matches with a score of 0:5 and failed to score anything from 38 shots on goal. In contrast, Senegal appears stronger in every line, from the goalkeeper to the attack. Pepe looks like a joke against Mane, Jackson, and both Sarrs in the Ivory Coast team. I bet on a victory for Senegal.