Kenya vs Côte d'Ivoire Prediction & Betting Tips - World Cup

Prediction published on 11/06/2024, 00:46  by Kennedy Kechula in World Cup Predictions

Kenya have a tough task on their hands when they host African champions Ivory Coast this Tuesday in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The two nations meet in Group F, where Ivory Coast lead with nine points, five more than Kenya’s tally. Due to unavailability of CAF approved venues in Nairobi, Kenya will be hosting this game in Malawi. It was a similar case with their home game against Burundi, which ended in a 1-1 draw on Friday. For the second time in three Group F games, Kenya allowed a lead to slip, and almost suffered another late defeat. Engin Firat and his charges will take their lessons going into their toughest game yet in this group. Well, they remain unbeaten in the last four games, and a win here could see them leap to second spot. It is however important to note that of all their last four games, none matches the kind of opposition expected from Cote d’Ivoire. Kenya will also want to defend better, after a late error against Burundi left them with just three clean sheets in 15 matches. They will however be motivated by only failing to score in two of their last 13 matches. Second placed Gabon having lost, Kenya will see just what a golden chance they missed in their draw with Burundi.

Cote d’Ivoire were always going to be the favorites in this group and so far they haven't disappointed. The Ivorians come here on three straight wins, after their latest a 1-0 victory over second placed Gabon. They’ve pulled away three points clear at the top and will still come into this game as favorites. In beating Gabon, they registered a seventh straight unbeaten outing. Their win, however, was only the first time they kept a clean sheet in four matches. Ivory Coast come into this encounter having conceded in eight of their last 11 matches. They however failed to score in only two of their last 16 matches. Both sides scored in five of their last seven matches. The Ivorians have turned a corner after starting the year poorly and have extended their run after winning the AFCON title in February. It is worth noting that their performances in recent World Cup qualification matches have been great. They’ve lost just once in the last nine matches in such qualifiers, winning seven. In the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, Ivory Coast lost in the last round, to Cameroon.