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The festive football calendar delivers a blockbuster international fixture this Wednesday, as the reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, launch their AFCON 2025 campaign against Mozambique at the Stade de Marrakech. Here’s our Bet Builder pick for Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, which has been placed with William Hill:
Why this pick
Liverpool’s high shot volume (15.4/gm) and 61.8% possession make a home goal nearly certain, but their defensive fragility is undeniable. They have conceded 32 goals this season and are specifically weak at defending set pieces. Newcastle, winning 18.1 aerial duels per match and boasting the return of Bruno Guimarães, have the tactical tools to punish a Liverpool backline that has consistently struggled with late-game lapses.
Why this pick
This is backed by elite statistical output; Newcastle lead the league with 148 corners, while Liverpool have 128. Newcastle’s width-heavy crossing game and Liverpool’s sustained 61.8% possession create constant pressure in the final thirds. Since both teams are in the top five for corners won this season, the tactical patterns suggest a high volume for both sides as they push for a breakthrough.
Why this pick
Friction is guaranteed in this high-stakes clash. Newcastle possess serial offenders like Joelinton (6 yellows) and Guimarães (4 yellows), while Liverpool’s Szoboszlai and Bradley (5 yellows each) reflect the home side's current defensive frustration. With both teams desperate for a win to end poor runs of form, cynical fouls and late-game tension are expected to drive the booking count high.
This 125/1 Bet Builder targets a volatile clash where tactical strengths and psychological pressures collide. By combining the league's most corner-prolific teams with two squads featuring several high-card players and clear defensive vulnerabilities, the selection finds value in the high-intensity nature of a Saturday night battle at Anfield.
The pressure on the Elephants is immense; having lifted the trophy on home soil earlier in 2024, the Ivorians are intent on becoming the first back-to-back winners in over a decade.
The hierarchy in this opening group clash appears distinct. Ivory Coast enter as heavy favourites, armed with a squad depth that few on the continent can match. In contrast, “The Mambas” of Mozambique arrive with fragile confidence following a chastening 4-1 friendly defeat to Angola. However, with both sides projected to mirror each other in 3-5-2 formations, the match could descend into a series of tight, individual battles across the pitch. With the champions averaging 56% possession in recent competitive fixtures and Mozambique conceding 1.4 goals per game, the territorial battle lines are drawn. We have identified three key player markets to construct a Bet Builder for the action.
Ivory Coast vs Mozambique Bet Builder Tip
Sebastien Haller: 1+ Shot on Target
Rationale
As the spearhead of the African champions’ attack, Sebastien Haller represents the focal point of a system designed to dominate territory and bombard the penalty area. His style of play paints a picture of a forward who is disciplined, positionally astute, and consistently dangerous in the zones that matter most. If Ivory Coast control the tempo as expected—holding 56% average possession leading into this tournament—Haller will be the primary recipient of high-quality service.
The most telling aspect of Haller’s recent output is the location of his efforts. He has unleashed 17 shots in his recent run of games, and remarkably, every single one of those 17 attempts has come from inside the box. This is not a player who wastes possession with low-probability strikes from 30 yards. Instead, he operates as a penalty-box predator, waiting for the cut-back or the cross. This predatory instinct aligns perfectly with Ivory Coast’s predicted 3-5-2 tactical setup, where wing-backs like Doue and Diallo are tasked with pinning the opposition deep and delivering balls into the corridor of uncertainty.
The variety of Haller’s threat further strengthens the case for him testing the goalkeeper. Of his 17 recent attempts, 9 have been headers. Against a Mozambique defence that has been porous—conceding 14 goals in their last 10 competitive matches—facing a striker with such elite aerial dominance is a tactical nightmare. If the Mambas retreat into a deep 5-3-2 low block to protect their goal, the aerial route becomes Ivory Coast’s most efficient method of breaking the deadlock. Haller’s ability to rise above defenders increases the likelihood of him connecting with a header on goal.
Additionally, Haller is a major factor in dead-ball situations. He has recorded 6 shots from set pieces recently, a high proportion that highlights his importance when play slows down. In a match where the underdog is likely to concede corners and free-kicks while defending deep under sustained pressure, Haller’s presence in the air gives him multiple avenues to register a shot on target. With a solid 35% shot-on-target ratio (6 on target from 17 shots), backing him to work the keeper is a sensible angle based on the volume of chances the champions generate.
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Vakoun Bayo: 1+ Shot on Target
Rationale
While Haller provides the calculated, structural presence in the box, Vakoun Bayo offers a different type of threat: high-volume intensity. Whether deployed from the start or used as an impact substitute to stretch a tiring defence, Bayo’s numbers suggest he does not need much time on the pitch to pull the trigger.
The standout aspect of Bayo’s profile is his shot frequency relative to minutes played. Despite playing just 284 minutes in his recent sample, he has registered 11 shots. This averages out to an attempt roughly every 25 minutes of action—a remarkably aggressive rate of fire. While his accuracy for the season sits at 9%, the sheer quantity of attempts makes him a standout candidate for registering a shot on target. He operates with a “shoot on sight” mentality, which is ideal for betting markets requiring just one accurate effort.
Crucially, Bayo is getting into the right positions to score. Like his compatriot Haller, the vast majority of his efforts (9 out of 11) have come from inside the box. He also poses a credible aerial threat, with 5 of his attempts coming from headers. His recent goalscoring form for the national team, finding the net against Oman, demonstrates that he can convert this volume into end product on the international stage. Against a Mozambique backline that concedes 1.4 goals per game, Bayo’s aggressive shooting tendencies should see him test the goalkeeper at least once.
Gildo Vilanculos: 1+ Shot on Target
Rationale
For the final leg of this Bet Builder, we look to the underdog’s most dangerous outlet. In a match where Mozambique are expected to have less than half of the possession (averaging 49% to Ivory Coast’s 56%), their opportunities will be scarce and will likely stem from rapid transitions. Gildo Vilanculos is the player best positioned to exploit these rare moments.
Ivory Coast’s 3-5-2 system is inherently aggressive, pushing wing-backs high to overload the final third and pin the opposition back. This tactical aggression leaves spaces in the wide channels behind the wing-backs—zones that a winger like Gildo is tasked with attacking. Although Mozambique average just 6.2 shots per match, they will need an out-ball to relieve the defensive pressure, and Gildo’s role on the flank makes him the prime candidate to drive into space and shoot.
Gildo has proven he can deliver for his country, having found the net in a 3-1 victory over Uganda earlier in the year. While his domestic sample size is smaller, his significant international experience (29 caps) means he is trusted to carry the attacking burden for “The Mambas”. We are not requiring a goal for this selection, simply a shot on target. With Ivory Coast likely committing bodies forward to break down a low block, the counter-attacking lanes will inevitably open up, giving Gildo the opportunity to cut inside or strike on the break.
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