Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has tipped host nation Ivory Coast to defeat Nigeria as both teams go head-to-head at the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium in their second group-stage match of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 (AFCON) on Thursday.
Ivory Coast got their 2023 AFCON campaign underway with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau. Seko Fofana opened the scoring in the early minutes of the first half while Jean-Philippe Krasso doubled the hosts’ lead in the 58th minute.
The Super Eagles had a disappointing start to their campaign after playing a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was on the scoring chat for Nigeria after Equatorial Guinea took the lead.
Speaking in a chart with PSL Player Transition Programme, the 37-year-old Moroka Swallows goalkeeper who had 18 appearances for Nigeria, said it going to be a tough contest but playing at home would be a big advantage for Ivory Coast.
“It’s going to be a tough game against Ivory Coast as they are the host country. I am giving it to the hosts because they will have huge support at the stadium,” Akpeyi said.
Akpeyi, however, said Nigeria can still create an upset by referring to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana win over host Egypt in the round of 16 of the 2019 AFCON.
“But again this is football and anything can happen. I remember in 2019 Bafana defeated Egypt when they were the hosts, so if Nigeria shows up they can upset Ivory Coast,” Akpeyi added.
Head-to-Head Stats
The two teams have a long-standing rivalry and have faced each other 27 times across all competitions since 1967.
Ivory Coast have a narrow 9 to 8 wins in the head-to-head record against Nigeria while 10 games have ended in draws.
They last met in the AFCON in the 2013 quarter-finals, with Nigeria recording a 2-1 win.
The Super Eagles have the upper hand in the six AFCON meetings against Cote d’Ivoire, with four wins
Ivory Coast have lost one of their last 38 group-stage games at the AFCON (W23 D14).
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