Uruguay vs Ivory Coast Prediction & Betting Tips - International Friendlies

Prediction published on 24/03/2024, 15:30  by Ian John | Modified on 26/03/2024 at 07:30 in Football Predictions

Uruguay face the Ivory Coast in Lens on Tuesday night in an international friendly that signals the first meeting between the two teams. Both are certainly in form after Uruguay have lost just one of 11 games since their World Cup elimination in 2022. That defeat came in Ecuador but since then they have beaten Brazil at home and also Argentina away, both by 2-0 scorelines to move into second spot in the World Cup Qualifying table for the 10 CONCACAF teams. They warmed up for this game by drawing 1-1 with a Basque Country representative team at the San Mames in Bilbao on Saturday. That goal was the first Uruguay have conceded in the last four games as they kept clean sheets against Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia, while rattling in seven goals in the process in those three games. 

Ivory Coast are still probably in seventh-heaven after their stunning African Cup of Nations victory. From almost certain elimination after losing their opening two games, they scraped through into the knockout stage but then produced a sensational run to lift the trophy in front of their home fans. The team have played just one game since then, a friendly game with Benin in Amiens at the weekend which finished as an entertaining 2-2 draw. With World Cup Qualifiers set to restart in June, this is the final chance the Ivory Coast have to get ready for the resumption of those games, which begins with a home game against Gabon on the 3rd June, followed by a trip to face Kenya in Nairobi a week later.