Côte d'Ivoire, who are bidding to become the first team to win back-to-back AFCON titles after Egypt in 2008 and 2010, have made light work of Zambia and Chad in their two qualifiers so far.

Emerse Fae's men ran out 2-0 winners in each of those games, played three days apart, thanks in no small part to the goalscoring prowess of Jean-Philippe Krasso, who netted three times.

Les Elephants are now on a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions and have not conceded in any of their last four matches since beating Uruguay 2-1 in a friendly in March.

Côte d'Ivoire are well placed to qualify for an 11th AFCON and three points from their next game would take them to the brink of qualification.

Friday's game will be the 10th time the hosts have faced the visitors, with six wins and three draws in the previous nine meetings, the last of which was a 5-1 victory in January.

Sierra Leone twice came from behind to beat Zambia, but eventually lost 3-2 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on 10 September.

The result followed Amidu Karim's side's dismal goalless stalemate against Chad in their opening AFCON qualifier four days earlier, which was their only point to date.

While that was only their first defeat in four matches, the Leone Stars have now managed just one win from their last eight outings at the turn of the year.

That leaves them with a lot of catching up to do in both their World Cup and AFCON qualifying groups, the latter of which is of immediate concern to Sierra Leone.

Having conceded 13 goals in their last four away matches, Friday's visitors will be wary of another away defeat.

Brighton & Hove Albion winger Simon Adingra has been ruled out of this match as he continues to recover from a slight knock.

Amad Diallo is back in contention for the home side and could be the biggest beneficiary of Adingra's absence as he looks to make a rare international start.

Jean-Philippe Krasso has found the back of the net six times in his last seven games for club and country, making him one to watch.

Hindolo Mustapha needed just 14 minutes off the bench to open his Sierra Leone account in his second appearance last time out and could be rewarded with a place in the XI.

Thirty-two-year-old Steven Caulker is set to make his 16th appearance for the away side, having established himself as a mainstay since switching his international allegiance from England.

Ivory Coast possible starting lineup:

Fofana; Operi, Ndicka, Agbadou, Singo; Seri, Kessie; Diakite, Pepe, Diallo; Krasso

Sierra Leone possible starting lineup:

Kamara; Samadia, Caulker, Kabia, Jalloh; Koroma, Sillah; Kargbo, Kaikai, Kallon; Bakayoko

Prediction:Ivory Coast 3-1 Sierra Leone

Ivory Coast VS Sierra Leone stream and TV listing

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