Ivory Coast vs Mozambique prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations betting tips on match 2025-12-23 17:30.
[p]Defending Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ivory Coast kick off their title defence against a Mozambique side who are competing in this competition for only the sixth time ever. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]The enormity of the challenge awaiting Ivory Coast is perhaps best illustrated by the fact no nation has retained the AFCON crown since Egypt in 2010. Ivory Coast’s previous AFCON triumph in 2015 before their title in 2023 was followed up by a group stage exit in the following tournament, a feat they’ll hope to avoid replicating in what is a competitive-looking Group F. Opening their campaign against Mozambique, the lowest-ranked side in the group, represents a perfect chance to get off on solid footing, and they certainly have form on their side in that quest as Ivory Coast have lost just one of their last seven internationals (W5, D1, L1), a run which also helped them qualify for the 2026 World Cup. [/p]
[p]Mozambique assume the role of plucky underdogs here as they bid to bypass an AFCON group stage for the first time ever after five successive eliminations at this stage. They’re likely to need to make history in more ways than one if they’re to do so considering they’ve never won an AFCON finals game before (D4, L11), but their recent form is hardly indicative of a side ready to etch their names into the history books. Mozambique won none of their three warm-up games for this tournament (D1, L2), part of a wider run of just two wins in nine internationals (D2, L5), yet having held Egypt to a frustrating 2-2 draw as hefty outsiders on matchday one of the last AFCON, there is at least some precedent on this stage for being a stubborn opponent.[/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]Ivory Coast are unbeaten in all seven H2Hs between these nations (W5, D2), although those two draws both came across the last three meetings. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Five of Ivory Coast’s last six internationals saw a goal scored before the tenth minute. [/p]
[p]None of Ivory Coast’s ten games in 2025 saw both teams score.[/p]
[p]Mozambique conceded first in four of their last five games. [/p]
[p]Mozambique have conceded 2+ goals in their last ten AFCON finals games.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]A Jean-Philippe Krasso goal could be a positive omen for Ivory Coast given his last four international strikes all came in 2-0 victories. Mozambique could look to Witi if they fall behind as four of his five goals for his nation served as equalisers. [/p]
[p]Ivory Coast talisman Sébastien Haller withdrew from the squad with an injury, while Mozambique’s joint-eighth all-time top scorer Clésio is their big-name absentee.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Given Mozambique’s unwanted knack for conceding goals in this competition, backing Ivory Coast to score 2+ goals could prove profitable.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Chris Wilson[/i][/p]