Preview: Côte d'Ivoire look to set the tone in Marrakech
The Africa Cup of Nations group stage opens for Côte d'Ivoire against Mozambique at the Stade de Marrakech on December 24, 2025, and the pre-match narrative heavily favors the Elephants. Bookmakers have installed Côte d'Ivoire as clear favourites, with a market price of 1.36 and an implied probability north of 73%. That kind of market confidence reflects a combination of recent dominant results and a convincing head-to-head edge — the last competitive meeting between these two ended 3-0 in favour of Côte d'Ivoire during the CAF World Cup Qualifiers in 2021.
Côte d'Ivoire arrive on the back of strong form. Their recent string of international friendlies and qualifiers includes authoritative wins such as a 2-0 victory over Oman and eye-catching scorelines of 3-0 against Kenya and a 7-0 demolition of Seychelles. Those results underline a team capable of controlling games and turning chances into goals. The friendly against Oman also highlighted an influential performer in Vakoun Bayo, who earned the best-player rating in that match and will carry momentum into this tournament opener.
Mozambique’s challenge: resilience needed against a heavy favourite
Mozambique are underdogs in every sense. Their recent results show inconsistency: a draw with Chad, narrow losses such as 1-0 to Morocco, and some positive results like wins over Somalia and Botswana. Their latest ten-match summary lists three wins, two draws and five losses, painting a picture of a side capable of resistance but not yet demonstrating the kind of firepower or defensive stability that top-tier African opponents demand. Playing in Marrakech — effectively neutral ground yet treated as Côte d'Ivoire’s staging post for the tournament — doesn’t help Mozambique’s prospects against an opponent brimming with confidence.
Tactically, expect Côte d'Ivoire to press early, look for quick transitions and test Mozambique’s defence at pace. Mozambique’s best path to a positive result is to remain compact, absorb pressure and seek set-piece or counter opportunities, but the gulf in recent form suggests they’ll be under the cosh for long spells.
Why the market backs Côte d'Ivoire — and how to approach the bet
The odds are not just numbers; they reflect concrete trends here — superior recent results, a convincing 2021 H2H, and a squad that has shown it can score freely in warm-up fixtures. For punters who prefer clear probability plays, the 1X2 market offers a straightforward route: backing the home win aligns with the data on form and bookmaker pricing. For those who prefer alternatives, goal markets could tempt punters given Côte d'Ivoire’s recent heavy victories, but without detailed shot and defensive metrics it’s riskier to predict a high-scoring affair with confidence.
For readers looking to sharpen their overall approach to match markets, consider refreshing your staking plan and market selection with resources that cover broader strategy — for example, read up on Soccer betting tips and the choice of markets to match your risk tolerance to the odds. And if controlling emotions during a packed tournament is a concern, the guide on The right time to place bets on goal markets is a good companion to refine timing and market entry.
Betting suggestion: Based on form, recent results and market pricing, the clearest value here is in the 1X2 market. Suggested bet: Côte d'Ivoire to win (Home) at 1.36. Keep stakes sensible — the market is tight and favourites can be upset — but this selection aligns with the data and represents the most probable outcome.
