AFCON 2019
Namibia vs Ivory Coast
30 June Air Defence Stadium, Cairo
Monday, 01-06-2019 @7pm
Ivory Coast have had an underwhelming showing at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations so far.
After scrapping to a 1-0 victory over South Africa, the Elephants lost 0-1 to Morocco in their last game.
On Monday evening, they come up against minors-Namibia, wanting three points that will see them reach the knock out stages of the competition.
“We have to forget the Morocco game and focus on tomorrow, said defender Wilfred Kanon ahead of Monday’s game.
“We trained well and we’ll give it everything to win.”
After managing only a single goal in two games, Ivory Coast’s forwards who include Nicholas Pepe and Jonathan Kodjia will be hoping to have a fine day at office and probably score as many as they can.
For Namibia, they are only hoping for a first goal and point as they have already been eliminated.
Namibia have lost both of their first two games to South Africa and Morocco but are confident they can cause an upset against the Ivorians.
“There are no easy matches in this group and the Ivory Coast team would be wrong if they thought the match will be easy,” said Brave Warriors boss Ricardo Mannetti.
“Our performances improve by time and we have to gather our strong points from the Morocco and South Africa matches.
“We must play with strength.”
Namibia have lost their only previous game against Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations, a 4-3 defeat in February 1998. Mannetti was on target that day.
Namibia are winless in their eight AFCON games (D2 L6), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of these eight encounters (20 goals conceded).
Ivory Coast have lost two of their past three games at the tournament (W1), as many as in their previous 21 (W11 D8). The Elephants have also failed to score in four of their previous six outings, as many blanks as in the 32 matches before that slump.
Max Gradel has delivered an assist for two of Ivory Coast’s past three AFCON goals.
The other games on Monday
-South Africa vs Morocco @8pm
-Tanzania vs Algeria @10pm
-Namibia vs Ivory Coast @10pm
