AFCON Team Profile: Can 23 Others outwit The Foxes?

By Ngome Michael

Blessed with some of the finest footballers on the continent with a great display of resilience, flexibility and determination, Algeria is at the AFCON with argueably its golden generation.

Participating for the 19th time, the Desert Foxes have a history of being inconsistent in the African Cup of Nation’s top places. Algeria made their debut in 1980, reaching the finals but lost 3-0 to host Nigeria.

The subsequent edition saw them dropped to 4th in 1982, 3rd in 1984. The string continued till 1990 when Algeria lifted her first trophy as host edging Nigeria 1-0.

Lost in the lime light for 20years the North Africans resufaced in Angola 2010 to finished 4th.

The next four editions of the tournament took place without Algeria featuring in the top four positions until 2019 when they beat Senegal in the finals, 29years after wining the first title.

Since 1980 till date, Algeria in 19 appearances has played in the final stages of the competition seven times.

Djamel Belmadi and his contingent of players are hoping to become new back to back winers like Egypt Ghana and Cameroon.

Unbeaten in close to 40 international football matches, Algeria dropped four of the 18 qualifier points, scoring 16gaols and erning 13 of those.

Group E is another tricky on consisting of the defending Champions, Equatorial Guinea Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.

3-0 win over Ghana, three days to kick-off, FIFA Arab Cup title and 34 match unbeaten run Algeria head to Cameroon with the intension of saving this pride.

Djamel Belmadi and Algeria will look to Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez in dying moments for assists and goals. Youcef Balaili, possesses exceptional dribbling skills and blends perfectly with teammates will be another assert for Algeria in Douala.

Belmadi is expected to field 2019 familiar title winning faces in his results producing 4-4-2 formation. The champions with the current display of good tactics, Algeria remain undisputed favorites.