Algeria take on the visitors Sudan in the round 1 match of Africa Cup of Nations group stage. The match will be played on Wednesday, December 24th at Stade Prince Moulay Hassan (Rabat).
Algeria still include players who won the continental trophy back in 2019. Overall, however, the team’s current performances look rather inconsistent. A lot was expected from them at the Africa Cup of Nations in the summer, but in the group stage they managed only one win along with three draws. Then they were held to a 1–1 draw by Sudan and lost the penalty shootout. At the same time, World Cup qualification went much better, as Algeria won eight of ten matches and confidently topped their group with 25 points. At the December Arab Cup, after another draw with the current opponent, the national team managed to beat both Bahrain and Iraq. The dense schedule clearly affects stability, with strong runs often followed by unexpected setbacks. Still, recent results show that Algeria tend to be far more convincing in matches where tournament importance is highest.
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Sudan know how to cause problems, even if they do not impress overall. The Al-Jediane Falcons were strong half a century ago, even winning the Africa Cup of Nations once, in 1970. After 1976, however, they appeared at the tournament only three times and reached the knockout stage just once, in 2012. Against that background, the current generation looks competitive and resilient. At the recent Africa Cup of Nations, they never lost in regulation time during the playoffs, but after draws they lost penalty shootouts, first to Madagascar in the semifinals and then to Senegal in the bronze match. In World Cup qualifying they collected 13 points from ten games, which is a respectable return. At the Arab Cup, after another draw with Algeria, they failed to build on it and lost to both Iraq and Bahrain. Recent matches show that Sudan are organized and difficult to break down, especially against stronger opponents. At the same time, their inability to convert draws into wins remains a recurring issue.
The Fennecs have won four of nine matches, with only one defeat. However, both meetings in recent months ended in draws. It feels like the right moment for Algeria to finally beat this opponent. A handicap of -1 goal can also be considered.
Prediction for the match: Algeria to win with -1.0 handicap.
