Ivory Coast will conclude their pre-Africa Cup of Nations preparations with a friendly against Ethiopia on June 18, according to the updated schedule released by the Ivorian Football Federation. The match will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and will serve as the Elephants’ final warm-up before heading to Egypt for the 2019 AFCON.
This encounter follows two earlier preparation matches. Ivory Coast will first face Comoros on June 7 in France, providing an opportunity to test their squad and tactical approaches. They will then meet Uganda on June 10 in Abu Dhabi, allowing the team to acclimate to conditions similar to those expected in Egypt.
The friendly against Ethiopia represents the last chance for coach Ibrahima Kamara to fine-tune his squad, evaluate player fitness, and finalize his tactical plans ahead of the tournament. These preparation matches are crucial for building cohesion, assessing individual form, and ensuring that the Elephants enter the AFCON with both confidence and clarity.
With these fixtures, Kamara aims to balance testing new options while maintaining the core strengths of the squad, giving key players meaningful minutes while integrating younger or less experienced members. By the time they arrive in Egypt, Ivory Coast hopes to have established a settled lineup and clear game plan to compete effectively in the continental tournament.
