Kanga Akale backs Cote d’Ivoire to beat Gambia in Bouake

Former Cote d’Ivoire international Kanga Akale expects the Elephants to defeat Gambia in Bouake when the two sides meet in the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers on 12 November.

The Group C leaders will face each other twice in the space of five days, with both teams having won their opening two matches. Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia therefore sit level on six points, making their meetings crucial in the contest to finish at the top of the section.

The first game will be played at the Stade de la Paix de Bouake before the teams meet again in Bakau, Gambia, on 17 November. The short turnaround will test how both managers manage their squads and the physical demands placed on their players.

Akale believes Cote d’Ivoire have the quality to come through the double-header, but he has warned against underestimating a Gambian side that has already demonstrated its attacking threat.

Gambia strengthened its credentials in the second round of matches with a 4-2 victory over Ghana. That result underlined the Scorpions’ ability to cause problems in the final third and ensured Cote d’Ivoire cannot afford to approach the games with any complacency.

The former international says the Elephants must remain disciplined and take their opponents seriously. While he considers Cote d’Ivoire’s experience and squad quality potential advantages, he believes those strengths will only count if the team maintains its focus across both matches.

Akale is particularly confident about the opening fixture on home soil. “I see a victory in Bouake,” he said, backing Cote d’Ivoire to make the most of their home advantage before facing a more difficult task in Gambia five days later.

His assessment is that Cote d’Ivoire have the stronger squad and can use that edge to gain control of the contest. A win in Bouake would give the Elephants an important advantage before the return fixture in Bakau, although the former international expects the second meeting to present a tougher challenge.

With six points already secured, Cote d’Ivoire have an opportunity to strengthen their position in Group C and take a significant step towards qualification for the CAN 2027 finals. Gambia, however, will be seeking to draw level or move ahead through the two-match sequence after its impressive win against Ghana.

The first encounter is also listed with betting odds of 1.48 for a Cote d’Ivoire win, 3.70 for a draw and 6.02 for a Gambia victory. The quoted price for the match is 1.98.