Football Betting Tips & Predictions

Lesotho vs Côte d'Ivoire betting tips: Africa Cup of Nations qualifier preview, predictions and odds


This will be a first-ever meeting between Lesotho and Côte d'Ivoire. The Crocodiles have won just 15 of 106 competitive fixtures. 

Ivory Coast to win and under 2.5 goals is 1/1. 

Match preview

Given that they’re hosting next summer’s tournament, Côte d’Ivoire have already qualified, but are using these matches as preperation.

On matchday one, les Éléphants outclassed Zambia in Yamoussoukro; Serge Aurier, Christian Kouamé and Ibrahim Sangaré on target in a 3-1 win.

Ivory Coast were African Champions as recently as 2015, having previously lost in the finals of 2006 and 2012.

Since then though, they’ve gone no further than the quarter-finals, also failing to qualify for back-to-back World Cups.

So, next summer, Jean-Louis Gasset’s team will be under massive pressure to reignite national pride and lift the trophy on home soil.

In the context of this group, Lesotho are the rank-outsiders, having never qualified for an Africa Cup of Nations before.

The Crocodiles came through the preliminary round just to get this far, seeing off Seychelles 3-1 over two legs.

However, they’ve now only won 13 of 80 qualification matches, following Friday’s 2-0 defeat to Comoros in Moroni.

So, despite having nothing tangible to play for, Ivory Coast should be far too strong at haha.

Lesotho team news

The majority of this squad ply their trade in the Lesotho Premier League, with a few exceptions.

Sera Motebang plays for Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa and has ten international goals to his name.

Meanwhile, Nkoto Masoabi is the only squad member currently playing in Europe; he's with Merani Martvili in Georgia's second-tier.

Côte d'Ivoire team news

In stark contrast, Ivory Coast have some global superstars playing at world famous clubs in their squad.

Gervinho, who made his senior international debut at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, hasn't been called up.

Nevertheless, they could still field a front three of Sébastien Haller flanked by Wilfried Zaha and Nicolas Pépé.

This would see the latter two come in for Jérémie Boga and Max-Alain Gradel; Maxwel Cornet is an alternative option.

Franck Kessié, Jean Michaël Seri and Ibrahim Sangaré is a midfield trio that could rival anything in international football.

At the back, Serge Aurier will be donning the armband, with Simon Deli partnering Eric Bailly in the middle; Willy Boly is a doubt.

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Ben Gray

Ben Gray

Arsenal fan – follow them over land and sea (and Leicester); sofa Celtic supporter; a bit of a football '"encyclopedia".


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