Algeria, seeking to pick up a sixth consecutive win across all competitions, face Nigeria in a thrilling friendly at the Miloud Hadefi Olympic Complex on Tuesday, with kickoff at 10 pm.
Algeria has recovered since their World Cup qualifying heartbreak in March. After earning a 1-0 away win against Cameroon on March 25, the Indomitable Lions’ Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored 22 minutes into the second leg four days later to force extra time.
This is before Karl Toko Ekambi netted in the 124th minute to cancel Ahmed Touba’s 111st-minute strike and hand the Central Africans a dramatic win.
Since then, the Greens have won each of their six outings, including consecutive victories over Uganda and Tanzania in Group F of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where they currently sit top of the table with a four-point cushion over second-placed Niger.
After losing 2-0 in Cape Coast Stadium on August 28, Nigeria returned to the MKO Abiola National Stadium six days later and claimed a 2-0 victory over Ghana before losing 5-4 on penalties in the 2022 Africa Nations Championship.
Nigeria had previously picked up two wins from two in Group A of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, seeing off Sierra Leone 2-1 on June 9 before claiming an emphatic 10-0 victory over Sao Tome and Principe four days later.
Algeria vs Nigeria Head to Head
Both sides have seven games against each other, with the hosts taking two wins while the visitors with four wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Algeria 1-0 Guinea
- Iran 1-2 Algeria
- Algeria 3-0 DR Congo
- Tanzania 0-2 Algeria
Away
- Ghana 2-0 Nigeria
- Sao Tome 0-10 Nigeria
- Nigeria 2-1 Sierra Leone
- Ecuador 1-0 Nigeria
Algeria Team News
Algeria will be without Abdelkader Bedrane, who was forced to leave the team’s opening match against Guinea last weekend due to injury. In his absence, Aissa Mandi will push for a starting role, forming a defensive line with Houcine Benayada, Ramy Bensebaini and Mohamed Tougai, with Moustapha Zeghba between the sticks.
Nigeria Team News
Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr has named a 25-man squad for their friendly against Ghana, including three Barclays Premier League stars. Star striker Kelechi Iheanacho is joined by Everton’s Alex Iwobi and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi in the squad.
Prediction and Odds
Both Algeria and Nigeria have called up strong squads, with several talents scattered across the pitch. We predict that they will cancel each other’s efforts.
- Draw
- Double Chance
- Goals Over 2.5
