Ivory Coast vs Lesotho Prediction (09.09.2023)

On Saturday evening, Ivory Coast and Lesotho clash in Group H of qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.

The Elephants have already qualified for the African Cup of Nations and currently sit in second place in the group, two points behind group leaders Zambia.

Ivory Coast’s recent good record in African Cup of Nations qualification ended last time out with a 3-0 defeat in Zambia. The loss ended an eight-game unbeaten run for the home team in AFCON qualifiers. However, they have still recorded victories in five of their last eight qualifiers.

Ivory Coast have an excellent recent home record in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations, having recorded seven straight wins in qualifiers in front of their own fans. Ivory Coast have also been highly potent in home AFCON qualifiers, scoring at least two goals in seven of their last eight home outings.

The visitors have endured a difficult qualifying campaign, as they sit bottom of Group H, having picked up just one point in their five group games. The visitors travel to the Ivory Coast on the back of a three-game winless run, having claimed just one draw and suffered two defeats.

Lesotho’s recent weakness in African Cup of Nations qualifying has been a lack of goals, as they have failed to score in nine of their last 11 qualifiers.

The visitors have failed to win any of their last 21 away games in African Cup of Nations qualifying, a record that includes four defeats in their previous five away qualifiers.

A lack of goals has mainly caused Lesotho’s away struggles in AFCON qualifiers, as they have failed to score in six of their last eight games in qualifying.

Ivory Coast are a formidable opponent on home soil, and I am backing the Elephants to record an eighth straight home win in qualifying.