On Saturday, a highly-anticipated World Cup qualifier in Africa will take place. Continental powerhouse Ivory Coast will welcome Group C leaders Morocco to Abidjan in a winner-takes-all encounter.
The triumphant team will book a ticket to next year’s tournament in Russia, but the home side is at a disadvantage as a draw will favor the visitors. However, there are more statistics working against the Elephants qualifying for a fourth consecutive World Cup.
Ivory Coast’s form is the most worrying issue as of now. The host has drawn and lost their last two qualifiers, including an embarrassing 2-1 defeat on home soil to Gabon.
That was just one of many disappointing results under Marc Wilmots. The Belgian took over the African nation in March but has won only two of the seven games since his appointment.
They have won only three of their last 12 ties, a sign of Ivory Coast’s downfall. Although all hope is not lost, the 2015 AFCON champion faces a formidable side in Morocco.
The North African nation has shown amazing discipline in defense, a stark contrast to their Saturday opponent, having kept five straight clean sheets in the group. In attack, Morocco shows great potential, but they need not risk much going forward since a draw will suffice.
Nine of Morocco’s last 14 World Cup qualifiers have ended in stalemates, a result which would earn the visitors their first qualification since 1998. Even their recent head-to-head record favors the away side, with the Atlas Lions knocking out the Elephants from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations courtesy of a 1-0 victory.
Their previous meeting in the 2018 World Cup qualifying round ended in a goalless draw. Their two encounters in the 2014 qualification round also ended in stalemates. The odds are not in Ivory Coast’s favor.
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