Algeria vs Angola Prediction: The Desert Foxes will send a message to rivals in their AFCON opening match

The Desert Foxes will face off against Angola in the opening game of Group D at the Stade de la Paix Stadium on Monday. As of the time of writing this, only a game has been played, which ended in a (2-0) victory for the host nation. It's worth noting that Ivory Coast is considered one of the teams that could give Algeria a hard time in this tournament. With that in mind, we expect the Desert Foxes to put in their best effort to surpass the host nation's opening-day display when they lock horns against Angola tomorrow.

FIFA Ranking: 30th

It's interesting to note that the Desert Foxes have participated in the AFCON tournament twenty times, but they have only managed to win it twice in their history, with their most recent victory being in 2019. However, in the 2022 edition, they failed to make it out of the group phase, which was a disappointing result for the team.

Algeria were one of the four sides not to have tasted defeat in the AFCON qualifying round. They won the group after picking up sixteen points from a possible eighteen. Algeria had a smooth sail in the tournament, winning five while sharing the spoils once. Algeria head here following a (0-4) victory over Burundi in a friendly match. Led by star players like Riyad Mahrez, Houssem Apiar, and Ismael Bennacer, to mention a few, Algeria will be looking to dominate the game and secure a comfortable victory.

Algeria Likely lineup (4-4-3): Mandrea, Atal, Tougai, Mandi, Bensebaini, Aouar, Bennacer, Bentaleb, Feghouli, Slimani, Mahrez

Key Player: Riyad Mahrez

FIFA Ranking: 117th

The Giant Sable Antelopes are still searching for their first-ever AFCON tournament; their best time in the tournament was 2008 and 2010. Then, they finished in the quarterfinals in both seasons. Angola had a fantastic run in this qualifier, winning twice, losing once, and sharing the spoils in three games. Angola head here without a win in six games, settling for four stalemates and a defeat. The Giant Sable Antelope's recent match ended in a toothless share of the spoils against Mauritius. 

It seems like Angola is determined to leave a mark in this group, especially considering their past two appearances in this tournament, where they couldn't secure a win. Hopefully, this time around, they will have more success.

Angola Likely lineup (4-5-1): Neblu, Augusto, Gaspar, Buatu, Carneiro, Luvumbo, Fredy, Gelson, Keliano, Milson, Mabululu

Key Player: Agostinho Cristóvão Paciência (Mabululu)

Their last meeting in this competition ended in a toothless share of the spoils. Algeria are one of the serious contenders for the AFCON Tournament, considering the quality of their squad. The Desert Foxes are without a defeat in their previous eleven games and march here with four consecutive victories. On the other hand, Angola have drawn five of their last six games, and are without a goal in three consecutive contests. 

Without a doubt, Algeria is a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. Their team boasts a perfect blend of seasoned veterans and promising young talent, making them a formidable opponent for any team. In sharp contrast, Angola has been performing poorly lately, failing to score in their recent matches. It's clear that Algeria has a significant edge over Angola, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them emerge as champions of the tournament. We think the Desert Foxes will get a win before the break for 2.10.

We expect Algeria to win in both halves as well for 2.14.

Algeria will play a fast counter-attacking game here and create lots of chances; bet on a total of over 2.5 goals for 2.34.

Good luck!