Algeria take on Angola in the round 1 match of Africa Cup of Nations group stage. The match will be played on Monday, January 15th at Stade de la Paix (Bouaké).
Algeria are traditionally highly regarded. In the last decade, they confirmed this status by reaching the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup and winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) five years later, repeating the success of 1990. Of course, the team was a favorite in the subsequent continental tournament two years ago, but they were embarrassed, failing to advance from the group stage (1 draw and 2 losses). However, it seems that they now want to test the proverb about one beaten, as the coach remains the same, Belmadi, and the squad is virtually unchanged—except for Andy Delort, who not long ago scored in the French Ligue 1 but is now a 32-year-old forward for Qatar's Umm Salal. The rest of the veterans, led by Mahrez, are in the squad, making it look very experienced but clearly aged. Will it be a swan song for this generation? It's crucial for them to start the tournament successfully.
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Angola is rated significantly lower than its opponent. The Black Antelopes made their World Cup debut in 2006, and they performed quite well: they didn't advance from the group, but they lost narrowly to Portugal (0-1) and had draws with Mexico and Iran. Subsequently, in 2008 and 2010, the same generation reached the quarterfinals twice in the AFCON. However, there is nothing more to highlight, as Angolans qualified for only one out of the last four continental tournaments, getting eliminated in the group stage in 2019. The current squad made it to the Cup of Nations, but the main star, Mbala Nzola, decided to stay at Fiorentina, rejecting the call-up. Due to various reasons, Erenilson, Va, Elder Costa, and Geraldo are also absent, making it challenging to identify standout players, as they are stars perhaps only on a national scale. On the other hand, there is not much burden of responsibility on Pedro Gonçalves' charges.
Although the Desert Foxes are considered stronger, the head-to-head statistics are currently level. Each side won one out of six matches. Mahrez and company have all the advantages against this relatively modest opponent. Let's bet that the nominal hosts will win with a handicap of -1 goal scored.
Prediction for the match: Algeria to win with -1.0 handicap.
