Ivory Coast vs Algeria: Will the mighty fall again today?
Early exit of 4-time Champions Ghana was what many neither predicted no expected, but alas it is did happen. Today defending champions Algeria will be battling from a disadvantage position as they tackle Ivory Coast in their quest to crawl into the last 16.
This is not an easy moment for the Algerians to hit the pitch bearing in mind that you are defending champions who only in 2019 held the trophy and two years later struggling to advance.
The two teams on parade today are considered giants and even favorites to win the title so nothing short of battle of the titans will be expected today at the Douala Stadium.
While the Ivorians can make due with a draw, Algerians need all three points to stand a chance of making it to the round of 16 and this may not come cheap.
Ivory Coast currently sit at the summit of Group E, one point above second-place Equatorial Guinea and need just a draw to seal their place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
The Elephants head into Thursday’s game unbeaten in all but one of their last 14 games in all competitions, picking up nine wins and four draws in that time.
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Algeria’s chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations suffered a huge blow with a shock 1-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea dominating the game notwithstanding.
Many had predicted prior to the Nations cup that winning the title in 2019 and also the Arab Cup shortly after put Algeria in a vintage position to call the shots in Cameroon but a slow start by the Djamel Belmadi tutored side boxed them into a corner.
No doubt Belmadi is very worried and if you had seen him during the last match against Equatorial Guinea you will agree that he cannot not afford not to win today.
Seven time champions and perhaps the most successful team in the tournament’s history did find themselves in a tight corner as well but luckily they are already into the round of 16 after last night’s defeat of Sudan. Perhaps Algeria will equally wriggle out of this, just wait for it!