Ivory Coast, the reigning champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, boast a star-studded squad and considerable overall strength. Their dominance was evident in the African qualifiers. Over their last 10 matches across all competitions, they've achieved a record of six wins, two draws, and two losses, translating to a 60% win rate. Impressively, they've secured victories with significant margins, such as 7-0 and 3-0, showcasing a potent attacking force. However, their recent form hasn't been flawless, as they suffered defeats in friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and New Zealand, indicating some inconsistencies in their offensive efficiency and game control. Historically, Ivory Coast has remained unbeaten against Mozambique, but two out of their four encounters resulted in narrow one-goal victories. Their success rate in covering the handicap is only 25%, suggesting that they sometimes struggle to convert their dominance into substantial leads against defensively resilient opponents. Mozambique's strength and reputation pale in comparison to the defending champions; their overall team value and individual player abilities are noticeably inferior. Their recent performance has been dismal, with only two wins, two draws, and six losses in their last 10 matches, resulting in a low 20% win rate. Furthermore, they experienced a heavy 1-4 defeat against Angola in a recent friendly, highlighting significant defensive vulnerabilities. Nonetheless, Mozambique isn't entirely without resilience; they managed to secure a draw against the formidable Ivory Coast in a previous African qualifier, demonstrating commendable defensive organisation and fighting spirit. The team's recent data trends also indicate a high proportion of matches featuring a significant number of goals, implying a playing style that's not overly conservative and possesses the capacity to create opportunities. Facing a superior opponent, Mozambique will likely adopt a deep defensive strategy, potentially leveraging their set-piece defending capabilities. The question remains whether Mozambique, facing such a significant disadvantage, will succumb to the champions' onslaught or replicate their past resilience, causing problems for their opponents and possibly even securing a positive result.