Algeria vs Sierra Leone – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | AFCON 2022

Sadio Mane of Senegal and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria
Sadio Mane of Senegal and Riyad Mahrez of Algeria - IMAGO / Xinhua

ALGERIA will begin their AFCON title defence with a match against Sierra Leone at the Japoma Stadium on Tuesday.

Venue: Japoma Stadium (Douala) 

Key Statistics

Algeria are undefeated in their last 34 games.

The 2019 champions have won 21 of their last 27 outings.

In that period they recorded 14 clean sheets and scored 79 goals.

Sierra Leone are playing in the AFCON for the third time in their history.

This is their first appearance in the competition since 1996.

They have won just one of their last 13 games in all competitions (D5, L7).

Head to head

Algeria and Sierra Leone have met five times across all competitions. In those five meetings, Algeria won two times while Sierra Leone won once, while two games have ended in draws.

This will be their fourth meeting in the AFCON, with both sides recording one win apiece in the tournament.

Latest Performances in all competitions

Algeria: W-W-W-W-D

Sierra Leone: L-L-D-W-L

Algeria

AFCON defending champions Algeria begin their title defence with a game against Sierra Leone.

The North African side are ranked third in Africa behind Senegal and Morocco and are one of the favourites for this year’s AFCON title.

They come into this tie on the back of a 3-0 win over Ghana in their last preparatory game before this tournament. Goals from Adam Ounas and Islam Slimani, either side of a Jonathan Mensah own goal gave Djamel Belmadi’s men the win in Qatar.

The result extended their unbeaten run to 34 games in all competitions. They conceded just one goal throughout their title-winning campaign in 2010. Another impressive start will give them the needed momentum to go all the way again.

Possible Algeria starting line-ups

Rais M’bolhi; Ramy Bensebaini, Djameleddine Benlmari, Jean-Tahrat Mandi, Youcef Atal; Ramiz Zerrouki, Ismael Bennacer, Sofiane Feghouli; Riyad Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah, Islam Slimani.

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone couldn’t have asked for a harder opponent in their opening AFCON game than defending champions Algeria.

The West African side only managed seven points from their six qualifying matches but qualified as runners-up in the group behind Nigeria.

John Keister’s men are one of the least experienced teams at this year’s competition and are playing their first AFCON since the 1996 edition in South Africa

This year, they have put in a tough group alongside Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea. But their previous two appearances in the tournament have ended in the group stage.

They will have to be near perfect if they are to stand any chance of breaking that duck.

Possible Sierra Leone starting line-ups

Mohamed Kamara; Osman Kakay, Umaru Bangura, Steven Caulker, Said Mansaray; John Kamara, Kei Kamara, Mahmoud Fofanah, Issa Kallon; Moses Christian, Alusine Komora.

Injured: None 

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: None

Prediction

Algeria 3-0 Sierra Leone