CAN 2008 Preview: Ivory Coast - Nigeria

What: African Cup of Nations, Group B
Who: Ivory Coast vs Nigeria
When: Monday, 21 January 2008, 17:00 GMT
Where: Sekondi Stadium, Sekondi-Takoradi

This is arguably the biggest encounter in the group stages of the competition, and a great advert for African football. The first of the battle of the West Africans in Group B sees Nigeria, who are the number one FIFA ranked team in Africa, square off against the number one contender for the continental trophy.

There has been much hype and talk about this encounter and both teams will be under immense pressure to get something from the game.

The Ivorians won the last meeting between the two sides, thanks to that controversial Didier Drogba goal in one of the semi-final games at the last edition of the tournament in Egypt.

But for all the hype and history, it's hard to see this encounter producing the sort of sparks that is expected. It is going to be mainly a game of the defences: which one holds out longer, which one avoids making that silly mistake. That’s all it would take for a Didier Drogba, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Salomon Kalou or an Obafemi Martins to pounce and seal the encounter for his team.

The sides both know they are favorites to emerge from this group and will enter the game with a very cautious mindset, knowing failure to get something from this game would put them in a lot of pressure in their remaining group fixtures and all but kill off the possibility of sealing top spot.

That said, the sparks could start flying if a goal gets scored early in the game. The chasing team will come out and force the opponents into either lying back and defending or returning the attacks.

The result of this game will surely go along way in influencing who gets to qualify from the group. A loss for either Nigeria or the Cote d'Ivoire men will put them under immense pressure when they face the group’s other big gun, Mali.

I always regard the Ivorians as the “Dutch-team” of African football. Aside from their orange jerseys, they have that completeness that is lacking in several other African sides. They have a strong defence marshaled by Kolo Toure; a midfield that holds, creates, and moves; and an attack that parades some of the most potent strikers in world football.

The Elephants would most likely be playing a 4-4-1-1 formation, which has always favored burly striker Didier Drogba. The Nigerians are expected to retain a 4-3-3 setup that will seek to rely more upon the capabilities of their enviable strike force, with the pacy Martin looking to cause some problems for the Ivorians.

The midfield battle looks like a straight fight between Didier Zokora and Mikel Obi. These two players will surely determine the pattern and pace of play for their respective teams. Whoever gets to close one down would have effectively granted his team the upper hand.

FORM GUIDE

Cote d'Ivoire (full internationals only)

12 Jan 08 - Kuwait 0-2 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
21 Nov 07 - Qatar 1-6 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
17 Nov 07 - Angola 2-1 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
17 Oct 07 - Austria 3-2 Cote d'Ivoire (Friendly)
08 Sep 07 - Gabon 0-0 Cote d'Ivoire (ANC Qual.)

Nigeria (full internationals only)

09 Jan 08 - Nigeria 2-0 Sudan (Friendly)
20 Nov 07 - Switzerland 0-1 Nigeria (Friendly)
17 Nov 07 - Australia 1-0 Nigeria (Friendly)
14 Oct 07 - Mexico 2-2 Nigeria (Friendly)
08 Sep 07 - Nigeria 2-0 Lesotho (ACN Qual.)