Algerian stars need miracle to survive
STAR-PACKED Algeria came to the African Cup of Nations in Gabon as one of the title favourites, but they need a miracle in Franceville today to reach the quarterfinals.
A team including African Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez must defeat Group B winners Senegal, and hope fellow strugglers Zimbabwe beat Tunisia in a simultaneous kickoff.
Those results would see Algeria and Zimbabwe sharing second place with four points each, leaving goal difference, goals scored or the drawing of lots to separate the sides.
Judged by the four matches so far in Franceville, however, victories for Algeria and Zimbabwe are unlikely as Senegal and Tunisia have been much more impressive.
Senegal are assured of finishing first and staying in the Gabonese city for a quarterfinal against the Group A runners-up.
Tunisia need only draw with Zimbabwe to seal second spot and secure a Libreville date with the Group A winners.
Belgium-born Algeria coach Georges Leekens knows the ex-champions are facing a huge task.
“Senegal play good football and, in an ideal world, we would have qualified before facing them,” he said.
“To be frank, this is going to be a very tough match for us to win.
“We dare not give away soft goals like we did against Tunisia.
“Unfortunately, we no longer have our destiny in our own hands,” the handler who took Tunisia to the 2015 Cup of Nations quarterfinals before quitting over a bonus dispute said.
An own-goal by captain Aissa Mandi and a suicidal back-header by fellow defender Faouzi Ghoulam led to the 2-1 defeat by neighbours Tunisia.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse says he will not rest his first-choices, even though the result is of academic interest to him with first place sewn up.
A glance at the lineups makes it clear why the final-round group game is so eagerly anticipated.
The Senegal attack includes Liverpool star Sadio Mane and Keita Balde of Lazio.
Henri Saivet, a Newcastle United midfielder on loan to Saint-Etienne, is another Teranga Lion in form, creating the first goal in the 2-0 win over Zimbabwe and scoring the second.
Among the reasons Algeria were rated potential champions by pundits was the presence of winger Mahrez.
But after being a pivotal figure in the sensational 2015-2016 English Premier League title success of Leicester City, his form has dipped. Mahrez did score twice against Zimbabwe in a 2-2 draw, but was largely anonymous for long periods, and then well contained by Tunisia.
Leicester teammate Islam Slimani and former BBC African Footballer of the Year Yacine Brahimi are some of the other stars in the Algerian lineup who need to raise their games significantly.
Wahbi Khazri, seldom used by Premier League strugglers Sunderland this season, came off the bench to trouble Senegal in a 2-0 loss and was key in the win over Algeria.
Fellow attacker Naim Sliti boasts that Tunisia play beautiful football, but all coach Henryk Kasperczak wants against Zimbabwe is one point.
ý Burkina Faso and Cameroon secured progress to the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Nations last night as hosts Gabon crashed out.
Gabon were held to a 0-0 draw by Cameroon in Libreville, and their opponents went through to the last eight as runners-up in Group A.
Burkina Faso won the group after a 2-0 victory against Guinea-Bissau in Franceville.