Africa Cup of Nations: It’s the Super Eagles vs the Desert Warriors!

Algeria vs Nigeria

It’s the Super Eagles against the Desert Warriors.

Surely that billing is enough to excite you alone!

What’s more, both nations have already produced more Africa Cup of Nations highlights than you can shake a stick at.

This has all the ingredients to be something special.

Talking Points

It’s easy to forget that Algeria are unbeaten in their last eleven outings, on a run of six consecutive victories – if you include their quarter-final penalty shoot-out success against the Ivory Coast – and are unbeaten in their last six Africa Cup of Nations games.

Equally as impressive, the Desert Warriors have only conceded once at this year’s tournament with shut outs against Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Guinea.

Yes, it was a tough game against the Ivorians but they may not have been taken all the way had Baghdad Bounedjah converted a penalty kick early in the second half to give Algeria a 2-0 lead.

Algeria’s defence will be a threat after conceding their first goal in Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final — Algeria celebrate after winning the penalties against Ivory Coast

It’s also easy to forget this is just the second time in 15 tournaments that Algeria, managed by Djamel Belmadi, have reached the last four and, being so close, they will be determined to progress to their first final since they were crowned champions for the only time in 1990.

Nigeria’s progression to the last four has been anything but straightforward. Narrow victories over Burundi and Guinea preceded the shock of the tournament as they lost to surprise package Madagascar.

Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi helped see off holders, Cameroon, in an exciting 3-2 win in the first knock out round.

Yet more drama was to come in the quarter-finals with an 89th minute winner from William Paul Troost-Ekong saving the Super Eagles from extra time at the expense of South Africa.

Team news wise, Belmadi was forced to take right back Youcef Atal off in the quarter-finals so he looks unlikely to feature here.

Gernot Rohr has so far sparingly used the rest of his squad, and that looks like it will persist, especially as his team has had an extra day to prepare ahead of this battle.

Let’s head to Cairo.

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2019 Africa Cup of Nations

History

Only once in the past nine matches have Algeria defeated Nigeria – a run that stretches back to 1990.

That was actually during their most recent meeting, a 3-0 Algeria success in November 2017.

However, that was not as clear cut as it sounds.

This game – a World Cup qualifier – originally ended in a 1-1 draw but was overturned by FIFA and Algeria awarded a 3-0 success.

That was because Nigeria’s Abdullahi Shehu played in the original game, even though he should have been suspended for picking up yellow cards in two previous qualifiers.

The defender was cautioned in the Super Eagles’ 1-0 win over Zambia in October that sealed Nigeria’s spot in Russia, having been shown a yellow card in the first leg of their second round tie against Swaziland in November 2015.

The Nigeria Football Federation was also fined for the oversight.

The sanction did not affect Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup finals qualification as they had already clinched a place in Russia before the Algeria tie.

When they last met in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010, Nigeria edged victory by a single goal from Victor Obinna.

Algeria’s last ‘actual’ victory over Nigeria was in March 1990 in the Africa Cup of Nations Final when a 38^th minute goal from Cherif Oudjani settled the contest and secured the silverware.

Overall, Nigeria have nine victories, Algeria seven and there have been three draws in their clashes – the first of which was back in 1973 at the African Games.

Betting Tip

	Algeria vs Nigeria	Nigeria Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.12
	July 15, 03:00 (GMT+8)

SBOBET Africa Cup of Nations betting odds have Algeria as favourites, priced 1X2 @ 2.34 with Nigeria @ 2.87.

The draw – which of course it cannot be ultimately – is available @ 2.90.

The bets available on winning margins and winning methods also make interesting reading.

For Algeria to win by a goal you can win @ 3.70, for Nigeria by a goal @ 4.50, for Algeria in normal time @ 2.40, Nigeria in normal time @ 3.20, Algeria in extra-time @ 11.00, Nigeria in extra-time @ 13.00, Algeria in a penalty shoot-out @ 9.50, Nigeria to triumph on spot kicks @ 10.00.

With so much talent on display, you could be forgiven for expecting goals and available for your delectation is total goal 0-1 @ 2.11, 2-3 @ 1.80, 4-6 @ 5.40 and over 2.00 goals @ 1.94.

Correct score of 1-1 is available @ 5.40.