FootyDream

In the second-round match of the African Cup of Nations, the national teams of Algeria and Burkina Faso faced each other.

In the first round, Algeria unexpectedly failed to defeat Angola (1:1), while Burkina Faso started with a victory over Mauritania (1:0). With today’s victory, this team would secure a place in the tournament’s round of 16.

The first half of the game lacked goal-scoring opportunities. Near the end of the first half, Ahmed Mohamed Konate scored for the representatives of Burkina Faso. After VAR review, the referee pointed to the center circle.

Early in the second half, the Desert Foxes leveled the score with a precise strike from Baghdad Bounedjah. In the middle of the second 45 minutes, the nominal guests were awarded a penalty. Forward Bertrand Traore of Aston Villa converted the penalty.

Just when it seemed like a catastrophe for the Desert Foxes, Bounedjah completed a brace in injury time, securing a point for his team.

Thus, Burkina Faso’s national team collected four points. However, Algeria, with two points, risks being left out of the playoffs. Later today, at 18:00, the other Group D participants, Mauritania and Angola, will play.

Summary
Round 2nd. Group D
Algeria – Burkina Faso – 2:2
Goals: Bounedjah, 51, 90+5 – Konate, 45+3, Bertrand Traore, 71 (penalty)

Tunisia seek a response to their opening defeat at the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Mali at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium on Saturday.

The Eagles of Carthage were stunned by Namibia on Tuesday, while the West African nation secured a routine victory over South Africa in the first round of fixtures in Group E.

The crucial game will start at 8pm.

Match preview

Tunisia were meant to wipe the floor with Namibia but were on the receiving end of a loss against the Southern African nation.

The defeat was deserved, with the less fancied nation creating a glut of goalscoring chances before finally going in front through Deon Hotto in the 88th minute for the Brave Warriors’ first-ever victory at the Cup of Nations.

Jalel Kadri‘s men must bounce back from the perceived ignominy to avoid a potential early exit at the finals, even if finishing third could still be enough if results elsewhere are favourable.

Having avoided group-stage elimination since the 2013 competition in South Africa, Tunisia seek to continue a run that has seen them reach the tournament’s quarter-finals in the previous four AFCONs.

However, the North African nation have put themselves in a precarious position and must turn in an outstanding showing to defeat one of AFCON 2023’s most intense sides.

Mali’s pressing caught the eye against South Africa, with the Eagles forcing 11 high turnovers in their 2-0 success over Bafana Bafana.

The West African side generated three shots from those forced ball regains, more than any side managed in the competition’s opening round of games.

Their opening game could have turned out differently, but Percy Tau missed a 19th-minute penalty for the 1996 African champions with the game still goalless, and the Eagles punished them after the break.

Eric Chelle‘s men seek to confirm progress to the first knockout round with a win, even if a point puts them in a favourable position to progress if they lose in the final game against Namibia.

Mali have never made it to the first knockout round in three consecutive tournaments, a statistic they are keen to change with a positive result against Tunisia.

The Eagles are undefeated in their previous two AFCON meetings with the North African side, defeating the 2004 champions 1-0 at the last edition, and a similar outcome will please Chelle and his troops.

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Tunisia form (all competitions):

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Mali Africa Cup of Nations form:

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Mali form (all competitions):

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Team News

Taha Yassine Khenissi was withdrawn after 15 minutes against Namibia, and the striker is not expected back in the team for Tunisia’s round two game.

Haythem Jouini should replace the striker in the only anticipated alteration for the Eagles of Carthage.

Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko were the goalscorers should retain their spots in Saturday’s clash after goalscoring performances against South Africa.

Yves Bissouma, who won seven of nine ground duels in Mali’s triumph over Bafana Bafana, should start for the Eagles in midfield.

Tunisia possible starting lineup:
Said; Kechrida, Meriah, Talbi, Maaloul; Slimane, Skhiri, Laidouni; Achouri, Jouini, Msakni

Mali possible starting lineup:
Diarra; Traore, Kouyate, Niakata, Sacko; Dieng, Bissouma, Haidara; Doumbia; Sinayoko, Koita

We say: Tunisia 1-1 Mali

Mali seemed more coherent in their opening fixture against South Africa, and that should put them in a place of comfort before facing an under-pressure Tunisia side, who looked ropey in their defeat to Namibia.

source: sportsmole.co.uk

A disappointed Mauritania look to recover from their opening game defeat when they face Angola in their Africa Cup of Nations encounter at Stade de la Paix on Saturday.

The Lions of Chinguetti lost to a late penalty against Burkina Faso in their Group D opener, while Palancas Negras held 2019 champions Algeria to a 1-1 draw.

The game will kick off at 5pm.

Match preview

Despite a top showing against Burkina Faso, Mauritania had to accept a 1-0 loss following the concession of a late penalty, ultimately converted by Bertrand Traore.

Amir Abdou‘s troops were lauded for their effort out of possession against the Stallions and controlled aggression that meant their fancied opponents got little joy for much of the encounter.

While Mauritania seek to carry more of an attacking threat against Angola, a baseline guarantee of effort without the ball gives them a chance against their opponents.

Still without maximum points at AFCON, Saturday’s encounter represents another opportunity for the Lions of Chinguetti to claim a first win at the Cup of Nations in their eighth game at the continental showpiece.

Whether this materialises remains to be seen, but Abdou should demand his side matches the industry shown against Burkina Faso to give themselves a fighting chance against the Angolans.

As for the Palancas Negras, they hope to pick up where they left off against Algeria when they take to the field in their second Group D game at AFCON 2023.

Pedro Goncalves‘s men began slowly against the North Africans and could have fallen 2-0 behind in the opening half, but Baghdad Bounedjah‘s acrobatic second was ruled out for offside.

The Southern African nation responded strongly after the interlude and had several promising situations on the counter-attack, only to be let down by suboptimal execution before their 68th-minute leveller.

That came from the spot through first-half substitute Mabululu, who dispatched his penalty after Nabil Bentaleb‘s foul was penalised midway through the second half.

Having put themselves in a promising position with the point against Algeria, Angola know success against the Lions of Chinguetti all but confirms participation in the round of 16.

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Mauritania form (all competitions):

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Angola Africa Cup of Nations form:

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Angola form (all competitions):

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Team News

Mauritania may be without striker Aboubakar Kamara and centre-back Lamine Ba, who went off injured in their Group D opener against Burkina Faso.

Abdou is expected to retain the compact 4-4-2 shape that denied the Stallions space and time in the middle third and their defensive area.

Mabululu’s impact off the bench could precipitate a start against the Lions of Chinguetti on Saturday, with the 31-year-old winning the penalty that won a creditable point against Algeria.

That could be the only change for Angola, who could switch from a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3 against Mauritania.

Mauritania possible starting lineup:
Niasse; Keita, El Abd, Yali, Abeid; Thiam, Gassama, Fofana, Tanjy; Koita, Anne

Angola possible starting lineup:
Neblu; Mananga, Gaspar, Quinito; Augusto, Fredy, Show, Fortuna; Luvumbo, Mabululu, Dala

We say: Mauritania 1-0 Angola

While Mauritania could still be disappointed with the defeat at the hands of Burkina Faso, their defensive compactness puts them in good stead against the Angolans, and they could secure a historic first win at the Africa Cup of Nations against the Palancas Negras.

Source: Sportsmole.co.uk

Algeria seek their first win at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Burkina Faso at Stade de la Paix on Saturday.

Victory for the Fennecs would see them supplant their opponents, who lead Group D after the first round of fixtures.

The game will kick off at 2pm.

Match preview

Djamel Belmadi must still be disappointed with his side’s inability to see out their first-half advantage against Angola before playing out a 1-1 draw in their opening game of the group.

Baghdad Bounedjah put the 2019 champions ahead and would have doubled the North African side’s advantage with an impressive acrobatic effort but saw the strike ruled out for offside.

The Fennecs’ high level dipped after half time, allowing Angola back into the game long before conceding the 68th-minute leveller for the eventual draw, despite rallying late on to find another goal in the closing minutes.

Having exited at the group stage at the last Cup of Nations, Belmadi’s men face a tricky encounter against a side that could pose more problems than the Angolans did in round one.

Securing maximum points does not assure the North African side of a spot among the top two, even if it all but confirms participation in the round of 16 with four third-placed sides also progressing.

As for Burkina Faso, a much-improved showing from their opening game against Mauritania is required to compete with Algeria on Saturday.

A late Bertrand Traore penalty secured three points in the Stallions’ Group D opener, but the West African side were the least impressive team despite the outcome, struggling to cope with the Lions of Chinguetti’s intensity and aggression without possession.

Algeria are not expected to be as combative as Mauritania were, possibly giving Burkina Faso a different type of game to deal with this weekend.

Having made it to the semis at AFCONs 2017 and 2021, Hubert Velud‘s team need a point to effectively be assured of continued participation at this year’s continental showpiece.

Securing maximum points ends Burkina Faso’s three-game winless run against Algeria and seals qualification to the next round, even if it remains to be seen if the 2013 runners-up halt that run at the fourth time of asking.

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Algeria form (all competitions):

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Burkina Faso Africa Cup of Nations form:

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Burkina Faso form (all competitions):

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Team News

Riyad Mahrez, who could not be decisive against Angola, seeks to aid Algeria’s attacking performance this time against the Stallions.

On the other flank is Youcef Belaili, whose directness and aggressive ball-carrying could disrupt Burkina Faso’s defence.

Belmadi could start the same side that played their first game, with no reported injuries to the Fennecs.

As for the Stallions, Velud has a decision to make over Traore starting or coming off the bench like he did against Mauritania.

It remains to be seen if Dango Ouattara is fit to play, having been in the wars against the Lions of Chinguetti.

Defensively, Edmond Tapsoba had a commendable showing in round one, and the Bayer Leverkusen defender should be pivotal against the Fennecs.

Algeria possible starting lineup:
Mandrea; Atal, Mandi, Bensebaini, Ait Nouri; Bentaleb; Belaili, Bennacer, Chaibi, Mahrez; Bounedjah

Burkina Faso possible starting lineup:
Koffi; Kabore, Dayo, Tapsoba, Yago; Guira, Toure; Traore, Ki, Badolo; Konate

We say: Algeria 2-1 Burkina Faso

Algeria should return to winning ways after a disappointing tournament opener to extend their undefeated run over Burkina Faso to four games.

Source: sportsmole.co.uk

Amrouche, who took charge of the Taifa Stars in March 2023, made the allegations after his team lost 3-0 to the Atlas Lions in their opening match of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire on Wednesday.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) filed a complaint with CAF’s Disciplinary Committee, which found Amrouche guilty of breaching the code of ethics and conduct.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) announced in a statement Friday that they have terminated the contract of national team coach Adel Amrouche with immediate effect.

TFF has also appointed Hemed Morocco as the interim coach to lead the team in the remaining matches of the AFCON.

Tanzania will face Zambia in their second Group F match on Sunday. They are bottom of the group with no points, while Morocco lead with three points, followed by DR Congo and Zambia with a point apiece.