AFCON2019: Will Kenya break Algeria’s intimidating record?

African Cup of Nation Group C will on Sunday see a supremacy battle between Algeria and Kenya as this will go down in history as one of the most awaited matches in the tournament. The two teams will face each other’s wrath at the 30 June Air Defence Stadium.

Algeria

Algeria made it to this year’s AFCON after finishing first in the group D of their qualifying matches ahead of Benin, Ghana and Togo and will be approaching the competition as one of the few teams that have set an unbeaten record in their last six matches.

Algeria will also brag of having lifted the AFCON title once in 1990 when they hosted the tournament but have only gone further than the quarter-finals on one occasion since then and have exited at the group stage of the tournament in two of their last three participations at the competition.

READ: Algeria’s hidden strategy to outshine Stars

The Desert Warriors are likely to stick to their attacking style of play with all eyes focusing on their mainstay Riyard Mahrez. Mahrez is currently a Manchester City superstar who plays as a winger. In the 2015–16 season he was the Algerian Footballer of the Year, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, and was a member of the Premier League PFA Team of the Year as he helped Leicester City lift the Premier League trophy.

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Besides Mahrez, Algeria will also make good use of their strikers Sofiane Feghouli and Yacine Brahimi to tear Harambee Stars’ defense into tatters.

Kenya

Kenya will be approaching the match as the possible underdogs to their opponent. Harambee Stars are back to the AFCON tournament for the first time since 2004.

They will be making their sixth appearance to the elite competition and will be looking forward to going past the group stages for the first time and their second win at the AFCON though with tough opponents.

Harambee Stars finished second in their qualifying group after Ghana and their remarkable 1-0 win against the Black Stars made them a capable side for this competition.

Kenya have only lost once in their last seven matches with two draws and four wins.

Kenya have a good defensive record in recent times with only 2 goals conceded in their last seven matches (confirm from the above statistics). However, Harambee Stars will have to work harder especially after the loss of their sensational defender Brian Mandela.

The South Africa based defender played a vital role in their 1-0 defeat against Madagascar on June 7, 2019. Mandela succumbed to a knee injury during their training in France.

READ: Fearless Harambee Stars ready to take on continent’s best

Nonetheless, the Kenyan side will be led by an experienced Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama and a lethal striker Michael Olunga, who is currently the top scorer in the national team.

Not to forget able goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, who saved two penalties against Madagascar and DR Congo in friendly matches.

READ: A look at Harambee Stars’ leaders on the pitch in AFCON 2019

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Betting tips

Comparing their last six matches, Algeria have had a better form than Kenya as the Desert Warriors have not lost any match, drawn twice and won four matches. They have managed to score 11 goals with an average of 1.83 goals per game, making them the favourites to win.

However, the Kenyan side have only lost one match in their last six matches, scoring six goals and conceding only two goals in their last six matches, proving how solid their defense is. They have an average of 1 goal per game.

It will be a tight match and I would bet for both teams to score with over 2.5 goals.

ALSO READ: Harambee Stars to get the first feel of Algeria match venue 

Squads

Harambee Stars

Goalkeepers: Patrick Matasi, John Oyemba, Faruk Shikalo

Defenders: Philemon Otieno, Abud Omar, Bernard Ochieng, Musa Mohammed, Joash Onyango, Joseph Okumu, David Owino, Eric Ouma

Midfielders: Victor Wanyama, Dennis Odhiambo, Erick Johanna, Ayub Timbe, Francis Kahata, Ismael Gonzalez, Ovella Ochieng, Paul Were, Johanna Omollo

Forwards: Masud Juma, Michael Olunga, John Avire

Algeria

Goalkeepers: Rais M’Bolhi (El Etifaq, KSA), Azzedine Doukha (Al Raed, KSA), Alexandre Oukidja (Metz FRA)

Defenders: Aissa Mandi (Real Betis, SPA), Mehdi Zeffane (Rennes, FRA), Ramy Bensebaïni (Rennes, FRA), Rafik Halliche (Moreirense, POR), Mehdi Tahrat (Lens, FRA), Djamel Benlamri (Al Shabab, KSA), Youcef Atal (Nice, FRA), Mohamed Fares (SPAL, ITA)

Midfielders: Haris Belkebla (Brest, FRA), Ismail Bennacer (Empoli, ITA), Mehdi Abeid (Dijon, FRA), Sofiane Feghouli (Galatasary, TUR), Adlene Guedioura (Nottingham, ENG), Hicham Boudaoui (PAC)

Forwards: Adam Ounas (Naples, ITA), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City, ENG), Islam Slimani (Fenerbahce, TUR), Yacine Brahimi (Porto, POR), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd, QAT), Youcef Belaïli (Espérance Tunis TUN)

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