Egypt vs Ivory Coast Prediction: Card for Konan in crunch quarter-final

The most successful country in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, seven-time winners Egypt, take on reigning champions Ivory Coast (three titles) in the fourth and final quarter-final tie of the 2025 tournament.

Below you can find my Egypt vs Ivory Coast predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of Saturday's showdown clash at the Stade Adrar in Agadir (19:00 GMT, E4).

Team News

Egypt defender Mohamed Hamdi, who was substituted at half-time of Monday's last-16 tie with Benin (1-1, 3-1 aet), is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after scans revealed that he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

There's better news on another starter who came off against Benin, Trezeguet, who has trained this week and could be fit to face the Ivorians on Saturday.

Football Odds

Ivory Coast will be without suspended midfielder Christ Inao Oulai, who received his second yellow card of the tournament in Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the last 16. Seko Fofana could replace him in Emerse Fae's starting XI.

Egypt vs Ivory Coast Odds

Egypt are 11/5 underdogs to triumph in regulation time, implying a 31.3% probability of success, while Ivory Coast are 6/4, or a 40% chance, to win in 90 minutes, with the draw, which would send the tie to extra time, offered at 9/5.

The Pharaohs are 1/1 to win the tie by any means, with the Elephants 8/11 in the same market.

Betfred's Price Boosts include Amad Diallo (CIV) To Score At Anytime at 7/2 (was 11/4).

Bet Builder - Hamdy Fathy (EGY) & Ghislain Konan (CIV) Shown Any Card @ 12/1

Egypt midfielder Hamdy Fathy was booked in the 79th minute of his country's extra-time victory over Benin earlier this week to make it three Africa Cup of Nations in a row with a yellow card.

The 31-year-old, who has been cautioned four times in 10 Stars League appearances this season for Al-Wakrah, is averaging 2.5 fouls per game at the 2025 Afcon, recording two, three, one and four fouls, respectively, against Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola and Benin.

Ivory Coast left-back Ghislain Konan is less of a foul merchant than Fathy, making exactly one in his three 2025 Afcon appearances against Mozambique, Cameroon and Burkina Faso, but the reason I am backing him for a card on Saturday is that he will be tasked with marking the Pharaohs' main man, Mohamed Salah, who is averaging three fouls won per game and has attracted two yellow-card challenges already.

Total Goals - Under 1.5 @ 11/8

Egypt got their campaign underway with a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe, but their last three games haven't been flush with goals.

Hossam Hassan's side creaked past South Africa 1-0 before finishing the group stage with a goalless draw against Angola, and two of the four goals scored in their last-16 tie with Benin came in extra time.

Ivory Coast's last couple of matches, their final group game against Gabon (3-2), and Tuesday's last-16 tie with Burkina Faso (3-0), have been livelier, with five and three goals struck, respectively.

However, their first couple of matches were low scoring, with a 1-0 victory over Mozambique followed by a 1-1 draw with Cameroon, and the goal they conceded against the latter was put through his own net by Konan.

With just three goals conceded between Egypt (two) and Ivory Coast (one) at the 2025 Afcon, I'm predicting either a goalless draw or a 1-0 win for either this Saturday, making the Under 1.5 Goals bet appeal at 11/8.

The sides last met at the 2021 Afcon (played in 2022), playing out a goalless draw in regulation time of their last-16 tie before Egypt advanced on penalties.

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