Algeria will be wary of the emerging trend when they face off with Guinea in the round of 16 at the ongoing Africa Cup Of Nations Tournament. The Desert Warriors were part of a North African trio that finished the group stages with a perfect record.
Indeed, alongside Morocco and the hosts Egypt, Algeria won all their 3 group matches while conceding no goals in the process. In a sharp turn of events though, both Morocco and Egypt have been eliminated from the biennial tournament by minnows Benin and South Africa respectively.
Led by mercurial Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, Algeria is seeking only their second African title after their maiden AFCON win in 1990. Coach Djamel Belmadi is aware of the threat that Guniea poses and cited the Morocco loss as a warning to his team.
”I do not think we needed to have the example of the elimination of Morocco to be warned. Let’s prepare calmly for this encounter against Guinea to give the best of ourselves,” the Algerian coach said in his pre-match conference.
On the Guinean side, Coach Paul Put will have to make it without his midfielder, Naby Keita. Injured in the second match against Nigeria, Keita returned to Liverpool to continue rehabilitation and will miss the match against Algeria; a match where Ibrahima Traoré and his teammates are hyper-motivated for. “We will play one of the best African teams,” Traore said.
Guinea finished 3rd in their group behind surprise winners Madagascar and the Super Eagles of Nigeria. This will be the third time the two teams meet at the Tournament with each side winning once,; Algeria in 1980 while Guniea avenged in the 1998 edition in Burkina Faso.
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