samedi 11 novembre 2017


One of the biggest games in the CAF world cup qualifiers comes this weekend as first-placed Morocco travels to Abidjan to face the Ivorians who are second-placed. The two teams are separated by a point and hence the winner of this match will book a place in the world cup.

A group stage exit at the African Cup of Nations signalled their fall from grace earlier in the year and it was Morocco who knocked them out of that competition with a 1-0 win. It’s now just 3 wins from 12 matches for Ivory Coast and they were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Gabon in their last home qualifier.

They will have to be positive here given a draw is no good to them but to make it to Russia they will have to do something no side in this group has done, and that is to score against Morocco. The North Africans have kept five straight clean sheets in this group and they’ve displayed at times that they do offer a threat at the other end. They beat Mali 6-0 in September and were impressive 3-1 friendly winners against South Korea last month.


Ivory Coast will have to be adventurous, so Morocco should have chances on the break but won’t take any unnecessary risks given they only need a point. 9 of Morocco’s last 14 away World Cup qualifiers have ended in draws and with Ivory Coast looking unconvincing, backing the Draw could be worth a bet here.

Ivory Coast Last 6 Matches

06.10.2017 FIFA WCQL Mali 0-0 Ivory Coast
05.09.2017 FIFA WCQL Ivory Coast 1-2 Gabon
02.09.2017 FIFA WCQL Gabon 0-3 Ivory Coast
10.06.2017 CAF NCQ Ivory Coast 2-3 Guinea
04.06.2017 INT FRL Holland 5-0 Ivory Coast
31.05.2017 INT FRL Ivory Coast 1-1 Benin

Morocco Last 6 Matches

10.10.2017 INT FRL South Korea 1-3 Morocco
07.10.2017 FIFA WCQL Morocco 3-0 Gabon
05.09.2017 FIFA WCQL Mali 0-0 Morocco
01.09.2017 FIFA WCQL Morocco 6-0 Mali
10.06.2017 CAF NCQ Cameroon 1-0 Morocco
02.06.2017 INT FRL Rwanda 2-0 Morocco

Morocco vs Ivory Coast HEAD TO HEAD

24.01.2017 NC Morocco 1-0 Ivory Coast
12.11.2016 WCQL Morocco 0-0 Ivory Coast
09.10.2015 FRL Morocco 0-1 Ivory Coast
07.09.2013 WCQL Ivory Coast 1-1 Morocco
09.06.2012 WCQL Morocco 2-2 Ivory Coast
21.01.2006 NC Morocco 0-1 Ivory Coast

Morocco vs Ivory Coast Final Qualifiers
Round: 6
 Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny
 29°C
Referee: Bakary Gassama
Group C
Home match
0 : 0 Away game score


Ireland needed a win on final group game at Wales and a solitary goal from James McClean was enough to send the team to second in the group behind Sebia. It was nothing less than what they deserved after proving to be one of the toughest teams to beat in the competitions. Ireland lost just during their 10 games in the campaign, raked up 5 wins and 4 draws.

Danish head-coach Age Hareide and Ireland boss Martin O’Neil were team-mates with Manchester City and Norwich City.

Denmark: Predicted Starting Line-up (4-2-3-1)

Schmeichel – Bjelland, Kjaer, Christensen, Larsen – Kvist, Delaney, Eriksen – Sisto, Jorgensen, Cornelius.

Ireland: Predicted Starting Line-up (4-4-2)

Randolph – Ward, Clark, Duffy, Christie – Arter, Whelan, Hourihane, Brady – McClean, Murphy.

Denmark vs Ireland: Head-to-head

Ireland are ahead in the h2h meetings with 5 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses from the 13 meetings between the two sides.

Their last meeting was in a friendly in 2007 which resulted in a 4-0 win for the Irish side.

However, the Danes are unbeaten in the last four qualifying fixtures at home against Ireland with 2 wins and 2 draws.

Yet, this is the first meeting between the two team in a qualifying fixture since 1992.

Denmark vs Ireland
FIFA World Cup Qualifying Play-off – UEFA
Date: Saturday, 11th November 2017
Kick-off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET
Venue: Telia Parken (Copenhagen).


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