Preview:Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso - prediction, team news, lineups

It is an all-African affair at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara on Saturday when Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso face off against each other.

The hosts are currently ranked as the 59th-best male national team by world football's governing body, one spot above their visitors.

Match preview

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Ivory Coast claimed a resounding 3-1 victory over Ethiopia in their final Group K fixture of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Willy Boly and Franck Kessie gave Cote d'Ivoire a commanding two-goal lead at the interval, before Jean Evrard Kouassi scored the clincher a few minutes after Getaneh Kebede had halved the deficit.

The Elephants picked up 10 of the final 12 points to secure top spot in their group and book a place in the continental showpiece scheduled for next January.

In the meantime, Saturday's hosts prepare for the visit of a Burkina Faso side against whom they last played in a 2-0 victory nine years ago.

If previous meetings are anything to go by, Patrice Beaumelle's men could be set for another fruitful outing as they are yet to taste defeat in any of the last four clashes between the teams.

Like the home side, Burkina Faso have also secured a spot in the next edition of African football's biggest tournament after an unbeaten qualifying campaign.

Kamou Malo's men beat South Sudan 1-0 in their concluding fixture where they kept a third consecutive clean sheet, conceding only two goals in their six qualifiers.

Up next for the Stallions is the first of two warm-up international friendlies, with a trip to Ghana set to follow in seven days' time.

Saturday's visitors will be looking to extend their streak of 10 matches without a loss dating back to 2019, when they were beaten by Gabon.

Team News

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Sebastien Haller made his debut for Ivory Coast in an AFCON qualifier against Madagascar back in November, and he will be looking to add to his tally of one international goal.

Hassane Kamara, Ismaila Soro, and Hamed Traore are all in line to make their national team bows after impressive performances at club level in the just-concluded season.

Nicolas Pepe and Wilfried Zaha headline the list of first-team regulars who were not called up by Patrice Beaumelle as he aims to give them a rest.

After his man-of-the-match performance in Aston Villa's season finale against Chelsea, Bertrand Traore is expected to feature in attack for the visitors.

Lassina Traore's seven goals in 12 league games helped Ajax claim a 35th Eredivisie title and alongside Bertrand Traore, the duo have scored five of Burkina Faso's last nine goals.

Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:

Gbohouo; Aurier, Boly, Diomande, Singo; Sangare, Kamara, Kessie; Cornet, Haller, Gradel

Burkina Faso possible starting lineup:

Koffi; Tapsoba, Coulibaly, Dayo, Kabore; Ouedraogo, Sanogo, Guira; B.Traore, L.Traore, A.Traore

We say: Ivory Coast 2-1 Burkina Faso

Both teams have been in fine form of late which should make for a keenly contested affair in this one. The hosts just edge it in terms of overall quality and we expect that to translate into a narrow victory at the full-time whistle.