Ivory Coast v Equatorial Guinea
Venue: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo
Time & Date: Saturday, 04 February Kick-off: 1900 GMT
Live Update: www.NileSports.tv
Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui is set to recall his key men after resting nine players for the final group game.
With no injury worries, captain Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Didier Zokora are among those expected back.
Regular Equatorial Guinea captain Rodolfo Bodipo will miss out again, with Saturday’s game coming too early despite his recent return to training.
Centre-back Laurence Doe and midfielder Randy return from suspension, while Kily will come back after being rested.
Saturday’s quarter-final in Malabo may be ‘business as usual’ for Ivory Coast, yet it’s anything but for co-hosts Equatorial Guinea.
While the Elephants are contesting their fourth straight appearance in the knock-out stages, and tenth overall, the National Lightning are there for the first time.
Unfortunately for them, they are taking on the tournament favourites as an Equatoguinean side without a household name of its own takes on a squad packed with them.
“It is not that we cannot beat them but their status as a star-studded team is very formidable,” warns attacking midfielder Javier Balboa.
If they are to cause one of the biggest upsets of any Nations Cup finals, the co-hosts are likely to need to score the first goal against the Ivorians at this competition – unless the tie goes to a penalty shoot-out, that is.
After the crushing disappointment of their last quarter-final appearance, when losing 3-2 to Algeria in extra-time despite having led in the last minute of normal time, the Elephants are not treating this game lightly.
“It is going to be tough playing against the co-hosts, but I believe we have the experience and the footballers to make it,” says reigning African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure.
Whoever wins in the Equatoguinean capital on Saturday, when the co-hosts can expect terrific support, will play either Gabon or Mali in the semi-finals in the Gabonese capital Libreville.
Live update on http://www.nilesports.tv
