The second semi-final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will take place at Cairo International Stadium on Sunday, when three-time winners Nigeria take on Algeria for the last place in the big final. The two teams have last met during the qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup, Nigeria won 3-1 at home before securing a 1-1 draw in Algeria and eventually qualified for the final tournament. Nigeria have not lost against Algeria in the last eight matches and have won six of them. The last time Algeria defeated Nigeria was in 1990.
Nigeria are the fourth most successful team in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, they have won it three times and have played another four finals. However, their last triumph was in 2013 and after that they didn't even qualify for the 2015 and 2017 tournaments. This time they suffered a surprising setback after having won their first two group-stage matches, a 2-0 defeat against surprise package Madagascar, but then they defeated very tough opponents in the knockout rounds. First they battled 3-2 past Cameroon in the last sixteen and then they snatched a 2-1 victory over South Africa in the quarter-finals thanks to a late goal from Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong. Team captain John Obi Mikel has missed the last two matches due to an injury but is expected to return to the starting eleven for the semi-final.
Algeria had a very impressive run up to the quarter-finals, they won four matches out of four, scoring nine goals and conceding nine. However, their quarter-final battle with Ivory Coast was as tough as they get, Sofiane Feghouli put Algeria ahead after just 20 minutes but then Baghdad Bounedjah missed a penalty kick in the second half before conceding an equalizer. Algeria eventually prevailed in the penalty shoot-out, but the extra fatigue could play against them in the semi-final. Head coach Djamel Belmadi doens't have any injuries or suspensions to worry about ahead of this crucial match.
Probable line-ups:
Nigeria: Akpeyi - Awaziem, Troost-Ekong, Omeruo, Aina - Ndidi, Mikel - Iwobi, Chukwueze, Musa - Ighalo
Algeria: M'Bolhi - Bensebaini, Benlamri, Mandi, Attal - Guedioura; Belaili, Bennacer, Feghouli, Mahrez - Bounedjah
My prediction:
This will be a fierce match, Algeria are slight favourites but Nigeria have a lot more experience in the advanced phases of this competition. I expect a cagey game and most likely a goalless draw after 90 minutes.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Nigeria win - 3.20
Draw - 3.00
Algeria win - 2.40
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Comments (1)
sharpe
07/16/19, 05:07:01 PM
It's been a late late winner for Algeria from their most famous player Mahrez and apparently it wasn't an easy win for them but from what I saw from the highlights...
It's been a late late winner for Algeria from their most famous player Mahrez and apparently it wasn't an easy win for them but from what I saw from the highlights Algeria is maybe the side that playing the most impressive football at this tournament so they're probably the favorites to win it. Of course Senegal is the other big team there so it has to be one of those two sides to lift the trophy in what has been a not very impressive completion in terms of entertaining and prolific results.
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