Zaha and Ziyech key in Ivory Coast-Morocco World Cup shootout

Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The setting for the biggest World Cup qualifier in Africa this week as the winner takes all between the Elephants and Group C leaders Morocco.

The visitors, led by Herve Renard - the man that steered the Ivory Coast to AFCON success just last year - know that a point would see them through to Russia, while Marc Wilmots’ men need all three.

The former Belgian boss has only took charge in March but just one win in five matches in charge has already left the 48-year-old on the brink. A strong victory over Gabon was followed by defeat at home to the same side just three days later in September before stalemate with Mali handed Morocco the advantage in the group.

The two most recent disappointments did, however, come in the absence of Wilfried Zaha, who has been one of the nation’s strongest performers since switching allegiances from England and making his debut at the start of the year.

Since then he’s scored twice in seven appearances and will need to prove his goal threat once more against a side that hasn’t conceded a single goal in their five group matches to date.

The likelihood of keeping what would be a hugely impressive sixth clean sheet in as many games may well rely on the fitness of captain Medhi Benatia, who has missed out for Juventus over the last month with an ankle problem.

With Wilfried Bony injured and neither Seydou Doumbia or Jonathan Kodjia among the goals, not to mention not fully fit with regards to the latter, Zaha’s influence will be key.

So too, however, will be the presence of Hakim Ziyech for the away side, whose record at international level is superb having settled his differences with the powers that be. The Ajax star has started the last three qualifiers having missed Morocco’s eight matches previous.

The Eredivisie star has picked up this season where he left off last, earning a WhoScored.com rating of 8.09 to rank second in the Dutch top-flight. With Eric Bailly crucially absent through suspension for the hosts, the playmaker will hope to pick the locks that striker Khalid Boutaib can exploit and fire Morocco to their first World Cup in

Whichever nation misses out, there will certainly be some big names left heartbroken come the full-time whistle this evening.

Full match preview, with probable line-ups and prediction