Match Info:
Ivory Coast vs Angola, Group B
Time & Date: 30 Jan 2012 – 20:00
Live Update: www.NileSports.tv
Angola coach Lito Vidigal does not believe it will necessarily be good news for his side if Ivory Coast rest some of their star players for the final Group B clash in Malabo.
Tournament favourites Ivory Coast have already secured their berth in the quarter-finals after winning their opening two matches, but the other qualifying spot in the pool is up for grabs and Angola will be hoping they can secure it.
The Palancas Negras are currently second on four points, three above Sudan, who face eliminated Burkina Faso in their final pool match.
With a top-two spot already secured, Ivory Coast could ring the changes for the clash, but, according to Vidigal, that may not be the advantage it seems for Angola.
As well as being more familiar with the Elephants’ first-choice side, he said whoever is brought into the side “will want to show what they can do and prove to the coach that they can get into the first XI”.
Vidigal added about the game in A Bola: “We will treat it like a final, playing to win. We depend only on ourselves to get through.”
Even if Angola slip up against Ivory Coast they could still go through if Burkina Faso prevent Sudan from winning in the other match.
Ivory Coast only need a point to claim top spot in Group B but coach Francois Zahoui insists his side will be going out for all three no matter what their starting line-up looks like.
“Our goal is to finish first in the group, we want to keep our winning sequence going,” he said.
“Even if we make changes, we will do everything to win the game.”
Elephants striker Salomon Kalou scored the opening goal in his side’s 2-0 win over Burkina Faso last time out but he limped out of the encounter in the second half with what looked like a hamstring injury.
