Ivory Coast will look to make it two wins from two in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign when they face Somalia on Tuesday evening at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan. The Group C meeting kicks off at 10PM E.A.T, with the Ivorians aiming to build on their opening 2-0 win over Ghana.
For Somalia, the match is another significant step in a campaign that has already broken new ground. The Ocean Stars reached the main qualifying phase for the first time after a preliminary round win over Mauritius on penalties following a goalless aggregate draw. They then suffered a 2-1 loss to The Gambia last Friday, leaving them with work to do in Group C.
Ivory Coast arrive with early momentum
Ivory Coast’s start has been more straightforward. The Elephants opened their qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana and now have a chance to tighten their grip on Group C before the window closes. A second straight qualifier win would give them a strong early position in the section and keep pressure on the rest of the group.
Their squad is expected to feature familiar attacking and midfield names, with Malick Yalcouye and Franck Kessie among those likely to start. Nicolas Pepe and Ange Bonny are also in contention, while Ibrahim Sangare is another key figure in the setup. Ivory Coast’s depth and experience make them the clear favourites on paper, especially at home.
First competitive meeting
The match is being framed as a first-ever competitive meeting between Somalia and Ivory Coast, which adds another layer of interest to the contest. For Somalia, it is an opportunity to measure themselves against one of Africa’s established powers. For Ivory Coast, it is a chance to show control and professionalism in a fixture they are expected to manage.
Hervé Renard is again at the center of Ivory Coast’s push. The manager returned for a second spell in charge after previously guiding Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title, and he will be looking for his side to keep their qualifying campaign on track with another composed performance in Abidjan.
With Group C still taking shape, the outcome matters for both ends of the table. Ivory Coast can strengthen their early lead, while Somalia will be hoping to leave Abidjan with a result that keeps their first main qualifying campaign alive.
