Algeria-Ivory Coast at 20:30 pm: Desert Warriors ready to face the Elephants

Algeria’s Desert Warriors will play here on Sunday evening an important match before Ivory Coast in Cabinda Stadium.  

• Despite the Elephants are nominated to win over Algeria and get the Africa Cup, however, the Desert Warriors can win and qualify to the semi-finals in order to confirm their strong return to the African arena.
• Rabah Saadane’s men are expected to play a big game today because they have nothing to lose, as they are psychologically free and will play without any problems or inferiority, as apposed to Ivory Coast players who are obliged to win because everyone expected their good performance, thing which will create a kind of psychological pressure on the players and might be the reason of their defeat.
• Although everything is alright within the Algerian team, however, coach Rabah Saadane is worried because of his men’s injuries, Saifi who was absent during the match against Angola will not play today as well, and a lot of players are complaining of minor injuries including Bouazza, who is expected to remain out of the main squad, then Meghni and the goalkeeper Chaouchi who did not train with the team following Angola match until the session of last Friday, now Saadane is obliged to find appropriate solutions.
• Possibility to maintain four defenders
• Coach Rabah Saadane is expected to maintain on the same players in the back line which faced Mali, Malawi and Angola, including Abdelkader Elifaoui and Nadir Belhadj, as well as Rafik Halliche and Madjid Bougherra, with the possibility of involving Antar Yahia in the second half, because he improved physically, however he suffers lack of competition, thing which might reduce his chances of participation.
• No changes in the midfield
• So far, the technical staff expressed satisfaction with the midfielders in particular Hassan Yebda and Yazid Mensouri who showed good performance. Meghni may occur in the main squad if he is not suffering pain in the knee, while Ziani will play in both sides particularly the left one.
• Matmour to play behind Ghezzal
• Changes that are expected to occur on the offensive line which suffers weakness during the Africa Cup until now, is now involving Matmour in the position of his German club as a second striker behind Ghezzal instead of the right line.