Ivory Coast vs Guinea Bissau Predictions

• Ivory Coast have won six of their last nine matches
• Ivory Coast’s last five games have produced 21 goals
• Guinea-Bissau have scored in five of their last six games

Hosts looking to kickstart tournament in style

Ivory Coast are the hosts of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations and they will be hoping to start the tournament with a comfortable success when they host Guinea-Bissau. The home side won this tournament in 2015 but have not gone beyond the quarter-finals in three attempts since and will have to overcome the bad record that host nations have, they have not won any of the last eight editions.

The Elephants have been in solid form recently and boosted by their fervent support, they should be able to secure a victory in this first clash. Guinea-Bissau are an inexperienced squad, 13 of their 24 are in single figures for caps, and they were beaten 6-2 by Mali last time out.

High-scoring affair fancied

The Africa Cup of Nations has a reputation as a low-scoring tournament but this opening matchup could buck that trend. Ivory Coast have been involved in some high-scoring affairs recently, their last five games have produced 21 goals, and three or more goals looks likely in this clash.

The intense heat in Ebimpe and Anyama will have broadly passed by the time of this night game and that should increase the likelihood of an entertaining affair.

Guinea-Bissau have netted in five of their last six games and correct score backers should keep that in mind, they can get on the scoresheet in defeat, take a 2-1 win for the hosts.