The friendly match between Saudi Arabia and Côte d’Ivoire will take place at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, starting at 19:30 local time (GMT+3). This corresponds to 16:30 in Côte d’Ivoire and 17:30 in France. The match will be broadcast live on the Ivorian channel NCI. No broadcasting channel has been announced for France.

Analysis of the Saudi Arabia vs. Côte d’Ivoire Friendly

With just over five weeks remaining until CAN 2025, Côte d’Ivoire aims to strengthen its confidence. The Elephants completed the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in October without conceding a single goal, matching Tunisia’s record.

In other words, the Elephants hope to extend their unbeaten streak, testing themselves against an opponent with a different style. Additionally, they face a coach they know very well, having won CAN 2015 together, who has also become their nemesis.

Although they have never faced Saudi Arabia before, the current African champions have crossed paths with Hervé Renard five times. Their first encounter was a painful defeat in the 2012 CAN final against Zambia, followed by four matches against Morocco.

Against the Atlas Lions, the French coach won three matches with one draw. Their last meeting, on June 28, 2019, at the CAN, ended in Renard’s favor, with Youssef En-Nesyri scoring the lone goal in the group stage.

Emerse Faé’s squad will therefore be keen to avenge past defeats. Côte d’Ivoire will be without Bazoumana Touré and Evan Ndicka, who are injured, replaced respectively by Jean-Philippe Krasso and Ousmane Diomandé.