AFCON: Ivory Coast vs Guinea Bissau (PREVIEW)

Two-time winner and host of the 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast will play Guinea Bissau in the tournament’s opening game today (Saturday).

Being the opening match in Group A, the Elephants of Ivory Coast host their West African counterpart, the African wild dogs by 9pm (UTC+1).

The Match Day 1 will be played at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe, a 60,000-capacity stadium situated in Abidjan, one of the country’s economic hubs.

The stadium will play host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the tournament.

The opening ceremony which began at 7pm is still ongoing.

There was heavy traffic in the city of Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire, ahead of the opening match.

TEAM LINE UP:

IVORY COAST 4-3-3 with Coach Jean-Louis Gasset

Yahia Fofana (GK); Wilfried Stephane Singo; Ousmane Diomande; Evan Ndicka; Ghislain Konan; Franck Kessie; Ibrahim Sangaré; Seko Fofana; Jeremie Boga; Jean-Philippe Krasso; and Jonathan Bamba.

Substitute Players:

Karim Konate; Odilon Kossounou; Ismael Diallo; Dalcio Gomes; Badra Ali Sangare; Serge Aurier; Idrissa Doumbia; Christian Kouame; Nicolas Pepe; Jean Seri; and Max Gradel.

TEAM LINE UP:

GUINEA BISSAU 4-3-3 with Coach Baciro Cande

Ouparine Djoco (GK); Carlos Mane; Mama Balde; Mauro Rodrigues; Alfa Semedo; Janio Bikel; Moreto Cassama; Fali Cande; Marcelo Djalo; Opa Sangante; and Jefferson Encada

Substitute Players:

Jonas Asvedo Mendes; Franculino; Dalcio Gomes; Zinho Gano; M. Sanca Tchami; Sori Mane

OFFICIATING TEAM

CAF Online announced yesterday that the Egyptian referee Amin Omar, will lead the team and be supported by assistants Mahmoud Abou El-Regal, Ahmed Hossam Taha, and Mahmoud Maarouf.

Referees Mahmoud Ashour and Mahmoud El-Banna will handle the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties

Other teams in the same group as the host nation are the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the National Thunder of Equatorial Guinea.