2024-01-20 01:36:59
Algeria and Tunisia missed their entry into the African Cup of Nations (CAN), with respectively a draw against Angola and a defeat against Namibia. To maximize their chances of reaching the round of 16 of the competition, both teams must win on Saturday during the second day.
Published on: 01/20/2024 – 00:36 Modified on: 01/20/2024 – 00:42
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Error prohibited. For their second match of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) – Algeria and Tunisia no longer have the right to fail. Saturday January 20, the Carthage Eagles and the Fennecs must return to victory to see the round of 16 of the competition. And reassure the fans after their disappointing performances for their first match.
In group E, Tunisia came up against a surprising Namibian selection, and lost with a score of 1-0. A defeat all the more surprising and bitter as Namibia had never played a match in four appearances at the CAN.
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After their defeat, the Eagles of Carthage – who have participated in 21 editions of the competition and won the 2004 edition – find themselves in third place in Group E, Mali (2-1) having won against South Africa.
“Argentina had also lost their first match in the World Cup, that did not prevent them from winning the trophy a few weeks later,” reacted coach Jalel Kadri.
The affair was a little less painful for Algeria, which signed a draw (1-1) against Angola, as in their first match of CAN-2022. The Algerians were able to count on a goal from Baghdad Bounedjah before Mabululu equalized for Angola on a penalty.
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With this score, Djamel Belmadi’s men occupy second place in group D, after Mauritania’s defeat against Burkina-Faso.
Victory at all costs
For the Algerians, there is no question of repeating the catastrophic performance of the 2022 CAN, when they were eliminated in the first round even though they were reigning champions. This requires a victory on Saturday afternoon against Burkina-Faso, which, in the event of a victory against the Fennecs, would qualify for the round of 16.
“We said at the start of the tournament that it was very important for us to take three points, but we did not achieve it. This is our second match and our goal is to win, we will make every effort to win the match,” declared Djamel Belmadi, at a press conference. “It’s going to be a difficult match. We know Burkina Faso,” he conceded before adding a little later “It will be an important match but not capital.”
For its part, Tunisia will try, Saturday evening, to achieve a success against Mali. “We have disconnected ourselves from the outside world and we want to focus on the task at hand. We know what is at stake and we know that any result other than a victory means our end in the competition. We have identified our mistakes and we are working hard so that they do not happen again,” indicated Tunisian coach Jalel Kadri.
It would not be a question of fueling the cliché that North African teams never succeed in sub-Saharan Africa.
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