Ivory Coast did well to salvage one point against Guinea after Gervinho had been sent off, but they have to show a massive improvement if they want to beat Mali.

Les Aigles missed out the opportunity to beat Cameroon, and they, too, will see this match as a chance to take this group by the scruff of neck.

Failure to produce in big matches and inconsistency have proved to be major issues for Ivory Coast at past editions of the tournament, and it is hardly surprising the Elephants only have one AFCON title to their name.

Herve Renard’s charges arrived in Equatorial Guinea with a star-studded squad, albeit without veteran Didier Drogba, and, once again, they failed to impress in the first match at the tournament.

Guinea caused all sorts of problems to the Elephants few days ago, taking a first half lead, and things got even more difficult for Ivory Coast when Gervinho was sent off just before the hour mark.

However, that seemed to serve as a wake-up call to Herve Renard’s team, who did well to level the score through impressive Seydou Doumbia.

The Elephants will, therefore, have something to build on when they face Mali, where they are 1.91 (10/11) favourites to claim maximum points.

Key forward Gervinho has been slapped with a two-match ban, with Seydou Doumbia widely expected to deputize in the remaining group fixtures.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Gbohouo – Aurier, K. Toure, Bertrand, Kanon – Die, Tiote – Kalou, Y. Toure, Doumbia – Bony.

Mali arrived at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on the back of two straight third-place finishes, although it was never going to be easy for them to negotiate their way out of a very difficult group.

Les Aigles started their campaign against new-look Cameroon and they produced a very good showing, albeit conceding a late equalizer that denied them a deserved victory.

Led by Seydou Keita, Bakary Sako and Mustapha Yatabare, Mali were extremely dangerous throughout the game and should have killed off the match long before Ambroise Oyongo levelled the score.

But, having played so well against very good Cameroon side, les Aigles have plenty of reason for optimism at the moment and they can be backed at 4.75 (15/4) to see off Ivory Coast.

Coach Henryk Kasperczak is almost certain to field an unchanged side seeing as there are no fresh selection worries to report.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): S. Diakite – D. Diakite, Coulibaly, Wague, Tamboura – Sylla, N’Diaye – S. Yatabare, Keita, Sako – M. Yatabare.