Two former Africa Cup of Nations champions, Algeria and Sudan, go head-to-head for Rabat on Wednesday, a big match wey fit decide who go move forward from Group E. Algeria don dey try avoid another early exit after dem crash out for group stage for AFCON 2021 and 2023, while Sudan never win for this competition since 2012.
Match Preview
When Algeria win AFCON in 2019 after 29 years wait, nobody expect say di Baghdad Bounedjah goal wey seal win against Senegal go be their last victory for di tournament.
Di two-time African champions never fit win against Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania for 2021 and 2023 editions, taking only 3 points from 18.
Algeria come to di 21st AFCON unbeaten for qualifying, winning five and drawing one, and dem score 16 goals, second only to Morocco (26), level with South Africa.
For World Cup qualifying, dem score 24 goals, only behind Ivory Coast’s 25, with Mohamed El Amine Amoura top scorer across Africa during dat period. Di Desert Warriors need better start for Morocco to avoid another early exit under Vladimir Petkovic.
Sudan, wey last win AFCON in 1970, dey motivated despite war back home. Dem qualify by beating Niger by one point and managed two wins, two draws and two losses for qualifying under Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah. Di Falcons of Jediane dey back after missing out for Ivory Coast and dem go try avoid another group stage embarrassment.
Team News
Riyad Mahrez (34) go lead Algeria with fellow veteran Bounedjah (34), while Amoura don show say e fit shoulder goalscoring load with 10 goals in World Cup qualifying, more than Mohamed Salah.
Borussia Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini, ex-AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer, ex-Nice full-back Youcef Atal dey available, though Manchester City’s Rayan Ait-Nouri fit start at left-back over Bensebaini. Enzo Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane, dey expected start as goalkeeper.
Sudan squad get mainly home-based players, but captain Bakhit Khamis, Munjed Alnil, Muhamed Kesra, Sheddy Barglan, Abuaagla Abdalla, Ammar Taifour, Mohamed Eisa, Abo Eisa, Al-Jezoli, John Mano and Aamir Abdallah dey play outside Sudan. Four different scorers dey for qualifying — Mohamed Abdelrahman, Ahmed Al-Tash, Eisa and Mustafa Karshoum, so dem no rely on one player alone. Abdelrahman still be top scorer for squad with 23 goals.
Algeria Possible Starting Lineup
Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Belaid, Ait-Nouri; Bennacer, Zerrouki; Mahrez, Moussa, Aouar; Bounedjah
Sudan Possible Starting Lineup
Abooja; Awad, Ering, Karshoum, Tabanja; Mozamil, Taifour, Khdir, Raouf; Mano, Abdelrahman
We Say: Algeria 3-0 Sudan
Even though Abdelrahman fit shine, Sudan no get consistent goalscorers. Algeria go take advantage, end their six-match winless run since 2019 with routine victory.
