Following the 2-1 victory over Morocco, Netherlands take on another top African side as they prepare to face Ivory Coast at De Kuip in Rotterdam.

The Elephants could only muster a 1-1 draw with Benin in Abidjan and they will be looking to show some improvement on Saturday evening.

After Daley Blind paid the price for a disappointing finish to the Euro 2016 qualifiers and equally depressing start to the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, the national team bosses opted to bring back experienced coach Dick Advocaat.

But, with the veteran still in charge of Fenerbahce, it was interim manager Fred Grim who took Netherlands to Morocco and he oversaw a hard-fought 2-1 triumph.

Youthful Oranje side fared pretty well in Agadir, with Quincy Promes and Vincent Janssen scoring the two goals, although talented defender Matthijs de Ligt was sent off in his second appearance for the national team.

The Netherlands team will be much stronger when they take on Ivory Coast in Rotterdam as the likes of Kevin Strootman, Davy Klaasen, Arjen Robben, Georginio Wijnaldum and Daley Blind all joined the squad on Thursday.

It is, therefore, hardly surprising they have been made 8/11 favourites to defeat the Elephants and further improve their spirits ahead of the qualifier against Luxembourg.

The likes of Wesley Sneijder, Bas Dost and Jasper Cillessen are all set to be recalled, but Matthijs de Ligt misses out through suspension.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Cillessen – Tete, Viergever, Martins Indi, Blind – Klaassen, Strootman – Robben, Sneijder, Depay – Dost.

Former Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots took over the reigns in March 2017, with the main task of leading the Elephants to the 2018 World Cup.

His predecessor Michel Dussuyer did well to take four points from first two games against Mali and Morocco, but with Gabon also in their group, the Elephants will not have an easy job to remain top of the group.

After the second-string side shared spoils with Benin few days ago, the strongest side will take on Netherlands in an international friendly before they face Guinea in an AFCON qualifier.

There were no major surprises in Wilmots’ first Ivory Coast squad, although he did persuade Hertha forward Salomon Kalou to continue international career.

Seydou Doumbia returns after a lengthy absence, while Maxwell Cornet, Jeremie Boga and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are all included after switching their allegiance from France.

Seko Fofana is out injured, and there was no place on the roster for Max Gradel, Jonathan Kodjia, Wilfried Bony or Gervinho.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Gbohouo – Aurier, L. Kone, Bailly, A. Traore – Seri, Die, Kessie – Cornet, Kalou, Zaha.