Two of the most successful sides in the Africa Cup of Nations square off for a place in the 2025 AFCON semi-finals as record winners Egypt take on reigning champions Ivory Coast at the Stade Adrar on Saturday.
This will be the first meeting between the two nations since their clash in the AFCON round of 16 back in January 2022, when the Pharaohs secured a penalty-shootout victory in Algeria.
FootballWhispers’ Egypt vs Ivory Coast prediction examines the chances of the two nations getting the job done and reaching the semi-finals.
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Egypt vs Ivory Coast prediction: The Elephants to edge out close contest
Key stats
- Ivory Coast have netted the opening goal in four of their last five matches, scoring a combined 10 goals and conceding three across the five games.
- Egypt have lost just one of their most recent six games against Ivory Coast, while picking up four wins and one draw since January 2006.
- Ivory Coast are unbeaten in their last 11 competitive matches, claiming nine wins and two draws since a 1-0 defeat against Zambia in the AFCON qualifiers back in November 2024.
- Egypt are unbeaten in 20 of their last 21 competitive games (13W 7D), with a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Jordan in the Arab Cup group stages on December 9 being the exception.
Correct score prediction: Egypt 1-2 Ivory Coast
Egypt and Ivory Coast have made a case for themselves in the hunt for continental glory, with both sides going unbeaten so far, and we anticipate a heated contest at the Stade Adrar as both nations look to get the better of each other.
With Mohamed Salah leading their attack, Egypt will be backing themselves this weekend, but the Elephants boast a slightly superior squad on paper, and we are backing them to come away with a narrow victory.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bookmakers have Ivory Coast as slight favourites
- HOME: 21/10 (3.10) – 32.3%
- DRAW: 7/4 (2.75) – 36.4%
- AWAY: 13/10 (2.30) – 43.5%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Egypt kicked their quest for a first AFCON crown since 2010 alive on Monday when they secured a 3-1 extra-time victory over a resilient Benin side in their round-of-16 clash at the Stade Adrar.
Following a goalless first half, Marwan Attia and Jodel Dossou netted for either side to take the game to extra-time, where Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Salah hit the target for the Pharaohs to put Benin to the sword.
Egypt eased through the group stages, picking up consecutive victories over Zimbabwe and South Africa in their opening two games before playing out a goalless draw with Angola on December 29 to collect seven points and clinch top spot in Group B, one point above runners-up South Africa.
It is worth noting that on the five occasions Egypt progressed through the AFCON round of 16 in the last two decades, they made it all the way to the final, clinching the title in 2006, 2008 and 2010, before suffering defeats against Cameroon and Senegal in 2017 and 2021 respectively.
While Egypt will be backing themselves to reach the last-four on Thursday, when they take on an opposing side, whom they are unbeaten against in five of their last six encounters, the bookmakers have their victory currently priced at 21/10.
This indicates a 32.3% win probability, with Ivory Coast given a favourable 43.5%, while there is a 36.4% chance of the spoils being shared at the Stade Adrar.
It has been a solid title defence from Ivory Coast, who turned in a dominant team display on Tuesday to see off the threat of Burkina Faso in the round-of-16 tie at the Stade de Marrakech.
Manchester United forward Amad Diallo opened the scoring in the 20th minute to put the Elephants in the driver’s seat before Yan Diomande and Hoffenheim man Bazoumana Toure hit the target to cap off a dominant team display.
Like Egypt, Ivory Coast clinched top spot in Group F with seven points from a possible nine, claiming victories over Mozambique and Gabon, with a 1-1 stalemate against Cameroon on December 28 sandwiched between the two victories.
Emerse Fae’s men head into Saturday’s tie unbeaten in 11 straight competitive games (9W 2D), a run which saw them book their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after clinching top spot in Group F with 26 points from 10 matches.
While we take a deeper look into both teams, you can take a peek at some of the best picks and predictions for this weekend’s fixtures by FootballWhispers in today’s free football betting tips.
Most recent H2Hs: Egypt hold slight edge
Egypt hold a slight upper hand in this fixture across their most recent 10 meetings since September 2000, two more than Ivory Coast’s three victories.
Their first encounter came in February 1970, when Egypt picked up a 3-1 victory in the AFCON third-place playoff, while the Pharaohs secured a penalty-shootout win to reach the AFCON quarter-finals in their most recent meeting in January 2022.
Africa Cup of Nations 26/01/22
Ivory Coast
Egypt
Egypt preview: Injury doubts over key man
Pyramids defender Mohamed Hamdi was forced off injured just before half time against Benin last time out and the 30-year-old is a major doubt for Egypt.
Should he fail to shake off the injury, Zamalek’s Ahmed Fatouh could be handed his second start at the tournament, teaming up with Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Hamdy Fathy and Rami Rabia in the back five.
Predicted lineup: El-Shenawy (GK), Hany, Ibrahim, Fathy, Rabia, Fatouh, Trezeguet, Attia, Adel, Marmoush, Salah
Last five games
- Egypt 3-1 Benin (After extra-time)
- Angola 0-0 Egypt
- Egypt 1-0 South Africa
- Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe
- Egypt 2-1 Nigeria
Ivory Coast preview: Amad Diallo firing on all cylinders
Diallo has been on song for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations, with the Manchester United man scoring one and setting up another to help the Elephants nearly dispatch Benin on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old now has three goals and one assist in three starting appearances to sit joint-second in the competition goal contributions chart, only behind Nigeria's Ademola Lookman, who has seven goal involvements under his belt.
Diallo should lead the attack once again, teaming up with teenage forward Yan Diomande, while 28-year-old Vakoun Bayo could get the nod, having sat out the game against Benin.
Predicted lineup: Fofana (GK), Doue, Kossounou, Ndicka, Konan, Kessie, I. Sangare, Fofana, Diallo, Y. Diomande & Bayo
Last five games
- Ivory Coast 3-0 Benin
- Gabon 2-3 Ivory Coast
- Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon
- Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique
- Oman 0-2 Ivory Coast
Player to watch — Mohamed Salah
Salah has been one of the standout performers at the AFCON, and given his track record for both club and country, the 33-year-old will be one to look out for this weekend.
The Liverpool forward has started three of Egypt’s four matches at the competition, scoring three goals, including the winner in the Pharaohs’ 1-0 group-stage victory over South Africa on Boxing Day.
Salah, who has 66 international goals under his belt, is three goals shy of becoming Egypt’s all-time leading goalscorer and should spearhead the attack on Saturday, alongside Manchester City man Omar Marmoush.