A place in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) is at stake as Mauritania and Algeria go toe-to-toe with each other. Which of these teams will emerge victorious at the end of this match?
Mauritania vs Algeria overview
This Group D clash will take place at the Stade de la Paix on Tuesday January 23. Kick-off time is 9 pm WAT.
Mauritania
Mauritania's Nations Cup campaign has not gone as well as they had hoped. They've lost back-to-back games, and are currently at the bottom of Group D.
Amir Abdou's men will have the opportunity to redeem themselves as they take on Algeria on Tuesday. They'll need to win this match in order to reach the last 16.
Algeria
On the other hand, Algeria's first two matches ended in stalemates. They are third on the table, with two points from a possible six.
Djamel Belmadi's men will need a positive result from this match, as they can qualify for the round of 16 with a draw or a victory.
Mauritania vs Algeria head to head
It's safe to say that Mauritania don't particularly look forward to meeting Algeria on the field. This will be the seventh encounter between these teams since they first met in March 1985.
As it stands, Algeria have a near-perfect record vs Mauritania, with five wins and a draw. In fact, the Fennec Foxes came out on top the last four times these teams squared off against each other.
The most recent encounter between these outfits was in a friendly match in June 2021.
Mauritania vs Algeria potential lineups
Amir Abdou's men are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation for this match, with Guingamp's Babacar Nassie starting in goal. The 27-year-old has a lot to prove, after conceding four times in two group matches.
On the other hand, Djamel Belmadi will likely adopt a 4-1-4-1 formation here, with Baghdad Bounedjah being the lone forward. The Al Sadd player has been in sensational form for the Fennec Foxes, scoring three times in two games.
With that in mind, these are our probable Mauritania vs Algeria lineups:
Mauritania
Goalkeeper: Babacar Niasse.
Defenders: Ibrahima Keita, Nouh Mohamed, Lamine Ba, Aly Abeid.
Midfielders: Omare Gassama, Guessouma Fofana, Bodda Mouhsine.
Forwards: Amar Bouna, Ibnou Ba, Aboubakary Koita.
Algeria
Goalkeeper: Anthony Mandrea.
Defenders: Youcef Atal, Aïssa Mandi, Ramy Bensebaini, Aït Nouri.
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb, Youcef Belaïli, Sofiane Feghouli, Ramiz Zerrouki, Riyad Mahrez.
Forwards: Baghdad Bounedjah.
Mauritania vs Algeria tactical analysis
Mauritania are currently on a six-match winless streak, with two draws and four losses. They haven't been able to keep the goals out, conceding eight times in their last six matches.
This is in contrast with Algeria, who are currently on a 14-match unbeaten run. Interestingly, the Fennecs are still hunting for their first win of this competition.
Belmadi's men have been a free-scoring side. They found the back of the net in nine consecutive matches, scoring 22 times in that stretch.
Mauritania vs Algeria prediction
These are two teams on opposite sides in terms of recent form. While Mauritania have no wins in their last six matches, Algeria have no losses in their last 14 games.
We've already established that Algeria dominated previous skirmishes between these teams winning five of their previous six meetings. On that note, the Fennec Foxes should be able to take all the points from this match.
Where to watch Mauritania vs Algeria live
There are a few TV options for fans who live in Mauritania, including AfroSport TV and Canal+ CAN.
Meanwhile those who reside in Algeria can catch all the action live on ENTV and beIN Sports.
