In the second round of Group A fixtures, tournament hosts Ivory Coast are set to clash with three-time winners Nigeria. Both teams, considered favorites for the competition, boast an array of high-profile players, including some from the Premier League. Ivory Coast, led by former West Ham United forward Sébastien Haller, now at Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, feature talents like Brighton and Hove Albion’s agile winger, Simon Adingra, and former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pépé.

On the flip side, Nigeria showcases one of the planet’s best strikers, Victor Osimhen. The towering center-forward gained global recognition with his prolific performances at Napoli, contributing to their 2023 Scudetto victory—their first since 1990. Additionally, the Nigerian squad includes talents like Samuel Chukwueze, who moved to Milan in the summer of 2023, and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi.