Two former Africa Cup of Nations champions, Algeria and Sudan, face off in Rabat on Wednesday, a crucial match that could shape their chances of advancing from Group E.
Having exited at the group stage at AFCON 2021 and 2023, the Fennecs need a positive start in Morocco against an opponent without a win in this competition since 2012.
When Algeria ended a 29-year wait for Cup of Nations success in 2019, little did the Desert Warriors know that beating Senegal would be their last victory at the tournament.
Baghdad Bounedjah’s fortuitous strike sealed the win in Cairo six years ago, and the two-time African champions have been winless against Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast in the 2021 edition and Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania at the previous finals, accumulating three points from a possible 18.
Having created unwanted history by exiting in consecutive group stages at the continental showpiece for the first time, Algeria bid to avoid extending their spell outside the competition’s knockouts, starting with Wednesday’s encounter with Sudan.
The Fennecs enter their 21st AFCON fresh off going unbeaten in qualifying, winning five and drawing one and outscoring all but Morocco (26) with their 16 goals, level with South Africa.
Their goal return was no fluke as they netted 24 in World Cup qualifying, only behind Ivory Coast’s 25, with Mohamed El Amine Amoura outscoring the rest of Africa during that time.
Considering the Fennecs’ form across the qualifying series for the continental showpiece and World Cup, another early exit for Vladimir Petkovic’s team would be incredibly disappointing.
Aiming to avoid coming unstuck early doors, Algeria take on the motivated 1970 champions whose return to the competition comes on the backdrop of war back home.
The war-torn country’s national team were forced to play their home fixtures in qualifying outside Sudan, doubly underlining the hurdles they needed to surmount to be involved in Morocco.
Managed by Ghanaian James Kwesi Appiah, the Falcons of Jediane twice avoided losing against the Black Stars, playing out a goalless encounter in Accra before defeating the four-time African champions 2-0 in the reverse fixture in Libya.
With two wins, two draws and two defeats, Sudan pipped Niger to qualification by one point, with Ghana going winless with three draws and three losses.
Back at the Cup of Nations after missing out in Ivory Coast, Appiah’s men bid to avoid the same fate as AFCON 2021 when they went winless from three games, losing to Nigeria and Egypt in a difficult group comprising teams with 10 titles among them.
Without a win since stunning Burkina Faso 2-1 at AFCON 2012, Sudan head into Wednesday aware of their four-match winless run in this competition as they look to shock and awe their opponents.
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
Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS