Amad Diallo vs Abud Omar and five key battles to watch in Ivory Coast vs Kenya clash
.jpg)
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 14.10.25. | 13:36
The hosts will hope to claim maximum points or pray that Burundi will do them a favour by beating Gabon so as to qualify
Kenya’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Ivory Coast is expected to be dominated by several battles across the pitch that will likely determine the winner.
Ivory Coast will host Kenya in the ultimate match of the qualifier on Tuesday, 14 October at the Stade Olympique Alassane Outarra in Abidjan from 10 pm.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
Heading to the match, Ivory Coast tops Group F with 23 points, one ahead of second-placed Gabon, who will host Burundi.
A win would guarantee the Ivory Coast a place at the World Cup. A loss for Gabon will also be enough for the Elephants to sail through.
Kenya are already out of contention for a place at next year's finals, having accumulated 12 points from the matches played so far.
With the match undoubtedly a high-stakes event, Mozzart Sport looks at six key battles that will shape it.
Abud Omar vs Amad Diallo
The Kenya Police FC defender is poised to face perhaps the biggest football battle of his career when he comes up against Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.
The encounter between the two is expected to be interesting as Ivory Coast will certainly rely on the speed and quality of the 23-year-old to create chances and score goals.
Diallo will be keen to be at his best, aware that the country has huge hopes on him as one of its best exports.
Omar, on the other hand, must be at his best to prevent Diallo, who is 10 years younger than him and definitely quicker.
His experience against The Gambia’s Yankubah Minteh and throughout his career is expected to help the former Bandari FC defender to fare decently against Diallo.
Simon Adingra vs Daniel Sakari
On the left side of Ivory Coast’s attack, another English Premier League (EPL) star, Simon Adingra of Sunderland, will be operating and spearheading attacks.
Adingra is not only a quick winger but also a skillful finisher.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion forward prefers to cut from the left into his favourite right foot to either put strikers on goal or shoot.
In order to be effective, the 23-year-old will have to overcome Sakari in the Kenyan defense.
Sakari is expected to slot in at right back in the absence of Norway-based Rooney Onyango, who will miss the match due to accumulated yellow cards.
Sebastian Haller vs Collins Sichenje
Leading the attack line, with the support of Diallo and Adingra, will be former Borussia Dortmund striker Haller.
The experienced forward will be the main man expected to turn Ivory Coast’s chances into goals, a role he has proven himself in.
However, he will be under strict marking from Kenya’s Sichenje, who has started Harambee Stars' recent matches.
The 22-year-old must be at his best if he is to help Kenya secure a victory or avoid defeat in the Tuesday night clash.
Ibrahim Sangare vs Timothy Ouma
In the middle of the park, Ivory Coast will count on EPL’s Ibrahim Sangare to bring his experience into the match and control proceedings.
The Nottingham Forest star will most likely face off with Poland-based Timothy Ouma, who will have the same role for Harambee Stars.
Ouma has been impressive in his European endeavours, but has been largely off color for the national team and will therefore strive to prove his abilities against Sangare.
Duke Abuya vs Frank Kessie
In Kenya’s attack, Young Africans’ (Yanga) Duke Abuya will be expected to link defense and attack, and provide creativity in Kenya’s search for a goal and win.
However, the former Kariobangi Sharks man will face a tougher opposition in Frank Kessie than what he is used to at the club level.
Kessie, who currently plies his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ahli, will be expected to draw from his top-level experience to affect the game for the hosts.
Michael Olunga vs Evan Ndicka
Once again, Kenya’s hope for goals will be on the shoulders of Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga, who is expected to lead the attack.
Despite criticism, the 31-year-old is still Kenya’s most experienced forward and team with the pedigree to lead attacks in such matches.
AS Roma defender Evan Ndicka will be the man tasked with marking the Al-Arabi man and ensuring Ivory Coast does not concede chances.
With his experience in the Italian top tier, the battle between Ndicka vs Olunga will be one to watch, as it will have an effect on the overall winner.
.jpg)
