All You Need To Know About Algeria vs Nigeria: Prediction, Preview, Team News And More

All You Need To Know About Algeria vs Nigeria: Prediction, Preview, Team News And More

By ABIDOYE BABATUNDE BLACKCOIN

Seeking to pick up a sixth consecutive win across all competitions, Algeria lock horns with Nigeria in a thrilling friendly at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex on Tuesday.

The Super Eagles, on the other hand, will head into the midweek clash desperate to get one over their North African counterparts, having lost each of the last three meetings between the sides since 2016.

MATCH PREVIEW:

Algeria have picked up the pieces since their World Cup qualifying heartbreak back in March, when they were beaten on the away-goal rule by Cameroon following a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Having claimed a 1-0 away win on March 25, Cameroon's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored 22 minutes into the second leg four days later to force extra time, before Karl Toko Ekambi netted in the 124th minute to cancel out Ahmed Touba's 111st-minute strike and hand the Indomitable Lions a dramatic win.

Since then, the Greens have won each of their six outings, including consecutive victories over Uganda and Tanzania in Group F of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they currently sit top of the group table with a four-point cushion over second-placed Niger.

Djamel Belmadi's side head into Tuesday's contest fresh off the back of a 1-0 friendly victory over Guinea when the sides locked horns at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex last weekend.

With nothing to separate both sides heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez teed up Islam Slimani, who tucked home the only goal of the game to hand Algeria a slender victory and see off the Syli National.

Nigeria, on the other hand, failed to secure their place in the 2022 Africa Nations Championship as they were beaten on penalties by Ghana on September 3, following a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Having lost 2-0 in Cape Coast Stadium on August 28, Jose Peseiro's men returned to the MKO Abiola National Stadium six days later where they claimed a 2-0 victory over the Black Stars before losing 5-4 on penalties.

Prior to that, Nigeria had picked up two wins from two in Group A of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, seeing off Sierra Leone 2-1 on June 9 before claiming an emphatic 10-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe four days later.

The Super Eagles, who also failed to secure their place in Qatar after they were beaten by Ghana on the away goal rule in March, head into Tuesday winless in six of their last nine games across all competitions, losing four and picking up two draws in that time.

Next up for Nigeria is the challenge of going up against an Algeria side who have won each of their last three meetings, scoring six goals and conceding once since a 3-1 loss in November 2016.

AlGERIA VS NIGERIA TEAM NEWS:

ALGERIA

Abdelkader Bedrane came off injured last time out and is a major doubt for this one. Villarreal's Aissa Mandi should replace him.

NIGERIA

Injuries to key players ensured Nigeria arrived in Algeria without the influential duo of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Real Sociedad’s Umar Sadiq.

Even in Constantine, the ill luck did not wane as Wilfred Ndidi and stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong were forced to leave camp due to injury.

But Jose Peseiro can still put up a respectably solid team blessed with the attacking talents of Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Cyriel Dessers, and in-form Lorient star Terem Moffi.

HEAD TO HEAD:

There have been 21 meetings between Nigeria and Algeria, with either side winning nine apiece aside three draws.

The last draw, though, was in 1993 – nearly thirty years ago – and Nigeria have won six of the nine games since.

Algeria, however, have recent momentum on their side, claiming victories at the semifinal of the 2019 Afcon in Egypt and in a 2020 friendly in Austria.

Algeria vs Nigeria Predicted XIs:

Algeria (4-1-4-1): Moustapha Zeghba; Akim Zedadka, Mohamed Amine Tougai, Aissa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini; Ismael Bennacer, Ramiz Zerrouki, Nabil Bentaleb; Riyad Mahrez, Adam Ounas, Bilal Brahimi.

Nigeria (4-4-2): Maduka Okoye; Ola Aina, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi; Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon; Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi

We say: Algeria 1-1 Nigeria

Looking at previous encounters between Algeria and Nigeria, we expect another heated contest with both sides taking the game to each other. Both sides have called up a strong squad comprising several talents scattered across all departments of the pitch and we predict that they will cancel out each other's efforts.

MATCH DETAILS:

Match: Algeria vs. Nigeria

Competition: International friendly

Venue: Olympic Stadium, Oran

Date: Tuesday, September 27

Kickoff time: 8 pm (Nigerian time)