Côte d'Ivoire vs Mozambique prediction, H2H and probable lineups - December 24, 2025
One of the opening round matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage will take place on Wednesday at the Stade de Marrakech, where reigning African champions Côte d'Ivoire face off against Mozambique. Let's take a look at a bet on the outcome of this clash with strong chances for success.
Match preview
Côte d'Ivoire enters the tournament as defending champions, and expectations are sky-high. Despite an unconvincing AFCON qualifying campaign, the Elephants were dominant in World Cup qualification, keeping a clean sheet in all 10 matches.
Even with several key players missing—including Singo, Haller, and Traore—the team boasts impressive depth and attacking quality. All eyes will be on Diallo and Guessan, representatives of the English Premier League, who are ready to step into the spotlight this tournament.
Mozambique continues to gain experience on the big stage—the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will mark their sixth appearance in the competition's history. Their progress last time out was encouraging, as the Mambas managed to hold both Egypt and Ghana to draws.
However, in terms of squad strength, Mozambique is clearly the underdog—only one player features in a top league, and several key footballers will miss the tournament due to injury. Historical stats aren't in their favor either—across seven encounters with Côte d'Ivoire, they've managed to score just twice.
Probable lineups
- Côte d'Ivoire: Fofana, Konan, N'Dicka, Agbadou, Doué, Sangaré, Kessié, Fofana, Diomande, Diallo, Guessan
- Mozambique: Ernani, Cabral, Mexer, Mandava, Langa, Feliciano, Amade, Bonde, Catamo, Gildo, Ratifo
Match facts and head-to-head
- Côte d'Ivoire hasn't conceded in official matches for over a year.
- Mozambique has never won a game at the Africa Cup of Nations—0 victories in 15 matches.
- In six head-to-head meetings, Côte d'Ivoire has kept a clean sheet in four wins over Mozambique.
Prediction
Côte d'Ivoire enters the tournament as one of the main favorites and is determined to assert that status from the very first match. The team hasn't conceded in official games for a long time and will play on home soil. Mozambique is showing progress, but they still lack the resources to truly challenge the champions.
