Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Mozambique and Ivory Coast go head to head at Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto at the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Mozambique failed to impress in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with the team collecting only 4 points from possible 18 in the process. Head coach Horacio Goncalves counts on players from eight domestic clubs, but footballers from France, Portugal, and Tanzania made the cut as well.
The Elephants, on the other hand, aim to kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign in the best way possible. Ivory Coast are vying for top position in Group D with Cameroon, and, no doubt they will give 100% to get off to a flying start. Even though the visitors will be without Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe in Friday’s qualifier, away win should be considered. In his absence, a man to watch in the away side will be Ajax attacker Sebastien Haller.
Highlighted Player (Mexer):
Edson Andre Sitoe “Mexer”, who was born in Maputo, Mozambique on September 8, 1988, began his senior career at Desportivo Maputo and he scored three goals in 97 appearances for the club. Mexer played for his home-town club from 2006 to 2010 and in the winter of 2010 he joined Portuguese side Sporting for a fee of €173,000.
The Mozambique centre-back was quickly loaned to Olhanense and it has to be noted that he made 39 appearances for the Primeira Liga club in the league. In 2012 he was sold to fellow Portuguese outfit Nacional and after playing 57 league games for the club, Mexer moved to France. The 187-cm-tall footballer signed a contract with Rennes in January, 2014 and he has been playing for les Rouges et Noirs ever since.
Mexer made his debut for Mozambique national team in 2007 and he represented Os Mambas at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored his first goal for Mozambique in a 5-0 win over South Sudan in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Highlighted Team (Ivory Coast):
Over the years Ivory Coast have established themselves as one of the best African teams. The Elephants won their second Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2015, with the team beating Ghana in the final of the tournament. Ivory Coast defeated the Black Stars on penalties and it has to be noted that goalkeeper Boubacar Barry scored the winner.
A number of high-profile footballers played (or play) for the Ivory Coast national team, but, no doubt, the most notable players are Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, Salomon Kalou and Gervinho. Ivory Coast are well known for their orange kit, but they play their away games in green shirts and green shorts. Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny is regarded as the team’s home stadium.
Didier Zokora is the player with the most caps for the Ivory Coast national team (123), while aforementioned attacker Didier Drogba is the team’s top scorer (65 goals). Drogba is the symbol of the Ivory Coast football and the former Chelsea man played for the national team from 2002 to 2014.