Ivory Coast, one of the host nations for the Africa Cup of Nations, boasts a star-studded squad featuring numerous players from Europe's top five leagues. Their squad value ranks among the highest in Africa, and they will be highly motivated, benefiting from home advantage. The team typically employs a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on wing play and central penetration, creating a potent and diverse attacking threat. Their midfield possesses strong control, capable of breaking down defences with precise passing. Defensively, they rely on a physically imposing backline, excelling in both aerial duels and ground interceptions. Recent friendly matches have shown stability, with the team's overall tactical cohesion well-developed. Their aim is to capitalise on home advantage to secure a winning start to the group stage. Mozambique's overall strength is significantly less than that of Ivory Coast. Their squad mainly consists of players from the domestic league, lacking experience in high-level European leagues. Their tactical approach is generally conservative, often employing a 5-4-1 defensive formation. While their defensive resilience is reasonable, they will face immense pressure from Ivory Coast's formidable attack. Their midfield struggles with interceptions, making it difficult to disrupt the opponent's attacking flow. Their attacking strategy relies on the individual skills of a few key players and set-piece tactics, with limited overall attacking power. Playing away, they will have to contend with the significant pressure from the home fans, and the players' mental state will directly influence their performance. They are likely to attempt a defensive counter-attacking strategy in hopes of gaining points.