The Africa Cup of Nations delivers a heavyweight showdown this weekend as the defending champions, Ivory Coast, prepare to lock horns with Cameroon in a crucial Group F encounter. Both nations, packed with Premier League talent, stumbled to narrow victories in their opening matches, setting the stage for a decisive battle in Marrakech.
Match Details: How to Watch in the UK
The highly anticipated group-stage fixture kicks off at 8pm GMT on Sunday 28 December. The match will be held at the Stade de Marrakech in Marrakesh, Morocco. For viewers in the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 4. The broadcaster holds exclusive rights to the tournament and will show the match on its 4Seven channel, as well as via its online streaming service.
Team News and Predicted Line-Ups
Fortunately, both squads reported no new injury concerns following their opening matches. Ivory Coast's manager has decisions to make after Wilfried Zaha was substituted during the 1-0 win over Mozambique, with Vakoun Bayo pushing for a start. Match-winner Amad is expected to keep his place in the side.
Cameroon, who also secured a 1-0 victory against Gabon, are likely to stick with a similar line-up. Key players such as Bryan Mbeumo, Carlos Baleba, and goalscorer Etta Eyong are all anticipated to start once more.
The predicted starting line-ups are as follows:
- Ivory Coast XI: Fofana; Doue, Ndicka, Kossounou, Konan; Seri, Kessie, Sangare; Y. Diomande, Diallo, Zaha
- Cameroon XI: Epassy; Malone, Koto, Tolo, Tchamadeu, Yongwa; Baleba, Ebong, Namaso; Mbeumo, Eyong
High Stakes in Group F
This match carries enormous significance for the trajectory of both teams in the tournament. With both securing only slender wins in their first games, this direct clash is likely to determine who tops Group F. The group winner is expected to secure a more favourable draw in the round of 16, potentially avoiding a tough fixture against a continental giant like South Africa. Consequently, neither side will want to settle for second best, promising a fiercely contested match between two of the pre-tournament favourites.
