AFCON 2015 Final: Predictions, TV Info for Ghana vs. Ivory Coast

Ghana will take on the Ivory Coast in the final of this year's Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, as two of Africa's most revered football giants prepare for what's shaping up to be a classic encounter.

Despite a raft of controversy marring the competition's proceedings in recent days, a pair most deserving of their places in the final should lay on a delightful closer, says John Bennett of the BBC:

Ahead of the meeting, we provide all the essential viewing details, along with predictions of how the tie will unfold.

Date: Sunday, February 8

Time: 7 p.m. GMT/2 p.m. ET

TV Info: ITV 4 (UK), beIN Sports 6 (U.S.)

Wilfried Bony Hits Momentum to Claim Golden Boot

Sunday Alamba/Associated Press

It's taken Ivory Coast some time to get out of first gear in Equatorial Guinea, but the Elephants have shown in their most recent wins just what a powerhouse they can be.

No small part of that success has been the improving form of Wilfried Bony, whom Bennett confirms has been involved in more goals at this year's AFCON than any other player:

The recently signed Manchester City striker scored both of his goals at the tournament during the 3-1 beating of Algeria in the quarter-finals, but Ghana are susceptible to conceding more.

Sunday Alamba/Associated Press

The only other player competing in the final who currently has more goals than Bony is Ghana's Andre Ayew (three), while team-mates Max Gradel and Gervinho also have two goals to their names, a figure Ghana's Christian Atsu also boasts.

Having seen what his new acquisition can do, Citizens manager Manuel Pellegrini recently gave Bony a vote of confidence by placing the Ivorian in his Champions League squad at the expense of Stevan Jovetic, per ESPN:

The 26-year-old will no doubt be buoyed by that decision and heads into the final with the potential to spearhead an attack entering a most prolific patch.

With everything to play for, one can bet Bony will have a share of chances to convert, and we're backing the frontman to bag two or more in the final and take the tournament's top-scorer prize as his own.

Ivory Coast Beat History and Double AFCON Tally

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

To date, Ivory Coast have won a sole Africa Cup of Nations trophy, emerging as victors in 1992 when, coincidentally enough, they beat Ghana 11-10 on penalties.

The Black Stars, meanwhile, have four AFCON titles in their cabinet. The second-most successful team in the competition's history have had to wait longer since they last lifted the crown aloft, however, with their most recent triumph coming in 1982, per Bennett: 

Once again, though, it will be Ghana who fall at the Elephants' feet in 2015. Ivory Coast are coming into form at the right moment and very arguably have the deeper resources coming off the bench.

The Elephants found the going tougher than some might have predicted heading into Group D, but they remain unbeaten nonetheless and have scored six goals in their last two outings.

Ghana winger Atsu, however, has spoken confidently of his side's chances in beating Herve Renard's men, per Goal's Edmund Okai Gyimah:

"

It was a very difficult game against Equatorial Guinea, they had lots of confidence [and] the fans were behind them but we worked harder than them.

We spoke to each other and said that we have to leave the referee and the Equatorial Guinea players and their antics and concentrate on ourselves. Ivory Coast are a very strong team with good professional players but we will do well and win the cup.

"

Themba Hadebe/Associated Press

Ghana have also scored three goals in each of their last two fixtures, but one could debate that Guinea and Equatorial Guinea were inferior opponents to the ones Ivory Coast have faced in the finals.

Depth will be the key on Sunday, too. Both teams hold attack as their greatest strength, and should the game go into extra time or beyond, it's the Elephants who may hold an advantage in stamina among their elite assets.