Riyad Mahrez AFCON Ivory Coast v Algeria

It’s all to play for in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E as all 4 nations can still progress to the knockout stages of the competition. Photo: Backpagepix

AFCON result: Ivory Coast send defending champions Algeria packing

It’s all to play for in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E as all 4 nations can still progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

Riyad Mahrez AFCON Ivory Coast v Algeria

It’s all to play for in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E as all 4 nations can still progress to the knockout stages of the competition. Photo: Backpagepix

It’s all to play for in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group E as all four nations can still progress to the knockout stages of the competition.

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In this clash, top-placed Ivory Coast (W1, D1) will entertain bottom-side Algeria (D1, L1) as two of the pre-tournament favourites head into this crucial clash in contrasting fortunes.

Ivory Coast will be out for revenge as Algeria knocked them out of two AFCON finals across the last four head-to-heads.

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With four points so far, a draw would also be enough for the ‘Elephants’, but they’ll still be aiming for better given their record of just one loss across their last 12 competitive internationals (W8, D3).

Algeria are on the brink of suffering an embarrassing group stage exit if they can’t find a way to win in this deciding match-up.

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The 2019 champions have so far struggled across their opening two matches, failing to net in either outing whilst losing 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea last time out.

That loss was Algeria’s first since October 2019 whilst since November 2017, ‘The Greens’ have lost just three times across 35 competitive outings (W22, D10).

To taste victory again here, they’ll need to rediscover their shooting boots, the same ones that fired an average of 2.9 goals across their 10 competitive internationals before this competition began.

Kick-off is at 18:00 SA time.

Players to watch: Ivory Coast v Algeria

Max Gradel scored the winner on matchday one for Ivory Coast, whilst his nation have never lost a competitive international when he’s been on the scoresheet (G13 – W11, D2). Similarly, Algeria have only ever lost once when Yacine Brahimi has scored during a competitive outing (W10) – he also netted his nation’s last competitive goal.

Hot stat

These two nations have accumulated 35 corners between them so far across their four AFCON 2021 matches.

NOTE: If the live scoring below does not display, please click HERE