The qualification of Algeria for the round of 16 of the CAN will not pass on a misunderstanding. To stay in the competition, the defending champions, authors of a nightmarish start to the tournament (one defeat, one draw), will have to beat Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday followingnoon from 5 p.m., full stop.
Until Tuesday evening, the Fennecs might still bet on a draw and many goals to hope to finish among the four best third. This somewhat miraculous hypothesis was rendered null and void by the surprise victory of the Comoros once morest Ghana (2-3). In the event of a draw, Djamel Belmadi’s men would automatically be eliminated with two small points.
We must now win once morest the Ivorian leader to maintain hope. Here is a summary of the different possible scenarios:
Algeria first in their group if:
– It beats Ivory Coast, currently 1st with 4 points and three goals scored, by at least two goals difference. And if at the same time, Equatorial Guinea 2nd, 3 points) and Sierra Leone (3rd, 2 points) neutralize each other. It would then pass in front of the Ivorians on goal difference… but will face Egypt of Mohamed Salah in the round of 16.
Algeria qualify if:
– It beats Ivory Coast. And if Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea neutralize each other.
– If there is a winner between Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, then Algeria will have to beat Ivory Coast by two goals to secure second place. Still silent following two games, the green selection would therefore be wise to refuel this Thursday followingnoon. If they win by the smallest of margins, the Fennecs will then finish among the four best third of the six CAN groups. Which would imply a complicated round of 16 here too once morest Nigeria on Sunday or Cameroon on Monday.
Algeria eliminated if:
– She’s not winning.
Group E classification before the last two games
1. Ivory Coast : 4 points; goal difference +1 (3 goals scored, 2 conceded).
2. Equatorial Guinea : 3 points; 0 (1 goal scored, 1 conceded).
3. Sierra Leone : 2 points. 0 (2 goals scored, 2 conceded).
4. Algeria : 1 point. -1 (0 goals scored, 1 conceded).
