Ivory Coast vs Norway match preview for World Cup 2026 round of 32

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Ivory Coast and Norway both shine well for di group stage, but one of dis two teams go crash out of di World Cup on Tuesday.

Na di first time Ivory Coast dey play for di World Cup knockout stage, and dem go begin dia title chase against strong Norway side, led by superstar striker Erling Haaland, wey don shine well for im first World Cup tournament.

Ivory Coast na one of di record nine African teams wey qualify for di round of 32, and wit talented young player Yan Diomande for dia squad, dem hope say Africa go continue di impressive run wey di continent dey get for di 2026 World Cup.

Afta three straight group-stage exits for di 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups, Ivory Coast don finally qualify for di knockout stage.

During di group stage, dem bin chop 2-1 from Germany.

Dis na di first eva knockout match for Ivory Coast for football biggest tournament. By finishing among di top two teams for dia group, dis current squad achieve wetin di golden generation of di Toure brodas and Didier Drogba no fit achieve.

Nicolas Pepe don score two goals to lead Ivory Coast scorers, while Amad Diallo and Franck Kessie don score one goal each, showing say di team get plenti attacking options.

Norway too finish second for Group I. Dem impress wit 4-1 win against Iraq for dia first match bifor dem beat Senegal 3-2 to qualify for di round of 32 wit one group match still remaining.

Di only time Norway don play knockout stage of any major tournament na for di 1998 World Cup, wia Italy knock dem out for di round of 16 wit narrow 1-0 win.

Now dem dey hope to reach dat stage again 28 years later, but coach Solbakken know say Norway go face veri tough game on Tuesday.

Striker Haaland don play hero role for Norway, scoring four goals in just two matches afta dem rest am for dia last group game against France.

Im goal-scoring form don make am one of di top contenders for di Golden Boot and don give Norwegians hope as dia team continue to dream big for dia first World Cup appearance since 1998. Captain Martin Odegaard too don lead by example, as e provide two assists.

Ivory Coast na well-organised team wey get strong defence and dangerous attack.

Norway too get plenti quality players, and dat one make dis match veri interesting. Even though none of di two teams dey among di top favourites to win di trophy, dis fit become one of di best matches for di round of 32.

Ivory Coast go likely focus dia preparations on how to stop di tall Haaland inside di penalty box, as e go test di West African defence led by highly-rated centre-back Ousmane Diomande.

Ivory Coast don win only one of dia last five World Cup matches against European teams (W1 D1 L3). Norway meanwhile don lose only two of dia 19 matches against African kontris for all competitions (W9 D8 L2).

Ivory Coast expected lineup: Y. Fofana; Doue, Kossounou, Agbadou, Konan; Amad, Sangare, Kessie, Y. Diomande; Pepe, Bonny.

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