Super Eagles AFCON opponents Ivory Coast held at home by World Cup qualification foes South Africa

Super Eagles 2023 AFCON group stage opponents, Ivory Coast were held to a 1-1 draw in an International Friendly game by Nigeria’s World Cup qualification foes South Africa.

Recall that Nigeria have been drawn alongside Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea in group A for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Also, the Super Eagles will face South Africa in the race for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ivory Coast welcomed South Africa to Abidjan for the International Friendly game on Monday, October 17, 2023.

2023 AFCON hosts, Ivory Coast came into the match on the back of one defeat, one win and one draw in their last three International games.

On June 17, they lost 3-0 away to Zambia, before a 1-0 home win over Lesotho won, while their last game vs Morocco ending in a 1-1 draw in Abidjan, with Sebastian Haller and El Kaabi on the scoresheet.

For Hugo Broos’ tutored South Africa, their last three games produced one win and two draws. A goalless draw with Namibia on September 9, a 1-0 against Congo, before a disappointing draw vs Eswatini on Friday October 13.

In the Ivory Coast vs South Africa game, Zwane received a pass inside the box and got in a powerful shot to open the scoring for South Africa in the 9th minute of the match.

South Africa soaked Ivorien pressure but were finally broken through early in the second half.

Singo crossed the ball into the box and Haller appeared to head home and level the scores for Ivory Coast.

There was no goal thereafter and so it finished 1-1 between two teams on the Super Eagles of Nigeria opponent list for International engagements.

SOUTH AFRICA LINE-UP: lliams, Mudau, Xulu, Mbala and Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole, Mayambela, Zwane and Hlongwane; Mothiba.

IVORY COAST LINE-UP: Fofana, Singo, Diomande, Ndicka and Konan; Seko Fofana, Kessié and Sangaré; Bamba, Haller and Zaha.