Ivory Coast look to complete double over CAR

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Oct 15, 2018. 15:00

Ivory Coast will look to complete a ‘double’ over the Central African Republic when the teams meet in a Group H 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Barthelemy Boganda Stadium in Bangui on Tuesday, 16 October 2018, kick-off at 16h00 CAT.

The teams crossed swords at Stade Bouake on Friday evening and the Ivory Coast cruised to a 4-0 victory, thanks to goals from Jonathan Kodjia, Eric Bailly, Cheick Doucoure and Maxwel Cornet.

The result sees the Elephants placed second in the pool on six points (trailing leaders Guinea, who have collected a full haul of nine points), while CAR are placed third on three points and Rwanda complete the quartet with zero points.

The 2015 AFCON champions will fancy their chances of a second away win in the group (having beaten Rwanda 2-1 in Kigali last month) and hope that it brings them back into contention for top spot, as Guinea face a potentially tricky match away to the East Africans (which kicks off at 15h00 CAT).

As for ‘Les Fauves’ only a win will suffice if they are to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for their first ever continental finals, and their home win over Rwanda back in June last year will give them hope that they can get back on track.

Ivory Coast coach Ibrahim Camara is likely to keep faith with a similar line-up to the one which did duty against CAR on the weekend, though he may be tempted to field the likes of Doucoure and Cornet from the start, given their goal-scoring impact from the bench.

CAR will need more from the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia (who made his debut in the first match against the Elephants, after switching his international allegiance from France) and will hope their home support in Bangui inspires a strong performance.

Zambian referee Janny Sikazwe will take charge of the match at Barthelemy Boganda Stadium.