Algeria and Mozambique will be looking to take a giant stride in their quest for an automatic spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they lock horns on Tuesday.
With the two nations currently level on 12 points at the top of the standings, we anticipate an action-packed contest at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium as both sides look to move into the driver's seat in Group G.
Match preview
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Algeria marked their first outing of 2025 in style as they returned to action in the World Cup qualifiers with a 3-1 victory over Botswana at the Francistown Stadium last Friday.
Amine Gouiri broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time to put the visitors in front heading into the second half before Mohamed El Amine Amoura scored either side of Tebogo Kopelang's 70th-minute strike to force a share of the spoils.
Algeria have now gone eight back-to-back matches without defeat across all competitions, a run which saw them finish unbeaten in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers to clinch top spot in Group E with 16 points from a possible 18.
Head coach Vladimir Petkovic will be delighted with his side's performance in the World Cup qualifying race as the Desert Warriors have picked up four wins and lost one of their five matches in Group G while scoring 11 goals and conceding five so far.
Algeria, who are seeking a fourth World Cup appearance and their first since their round-of-16 finish in 2014, currently lead the way at the summit of Group G with 12 points from 15 available, level on points with Tuesday's visitors.
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Like their hosts, Mozambique continued their fine run of results in the World Cup qualifiers as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Uganda at the Cairo International Stadium on Thursday.
Pepo Santos scored on either side of Muhammad Shaban's seventh-minute equaliser to hand Os Mambas a dream start to the tie before 30-year-old striker Stanley Ratifo made sure of the result in first-half stoppage time.
Chiquinho Conde's men have now won three back-to-back matches in the qualifiers, seeing off Somalia, Guinea and most recently Uganda, and are on a run of four wins from their five qualifying matches while scoring nine goals and conceding six so far.
Mozambique's only defeat came in November 2023, when they were beaten 2-0 by Algeria at the Estadio do Zimpeto courtesy of second-half goals from Fares Chaibi and Feyenoord midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki.
While Mozambique will be looking to exact their revenge at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium on Tuesday and move three points clear at the top of Group G, they have lost three of their four games against Algeria, with a 1-0 victory in January 1996 being the exception.
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Team News
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Amoura turned in a solid individual display against Botswana last week and the Wolfsburg man, who now has eight goals in Algeria colours, should retain his role in the XI on Tuesday.
He should form the front three with 25-year-old Gouiri and veteran forward Riyad Mahrez, who is three games shy of a century of appearances for the Desert Warriors, while we expect an unchanged midfield trio of Yassine Benzia, Adem Zorgane and Hicham Boudaoui.
At the defensive end of the pitch, Borussia Dortmund man Ramy Bensebaini, who made his debut in January 2017, should form the centre-back pairing with 33-year-old Aissa Mandi, who boasts 102 senior caps under his belt.
Making just his second appearance for Mozambique, Santos was involved in all three goals against Uganda last time out and the Caldas SC midfielder will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
He should team up with Guima and Alfons Amade at the centre of the park, while Nanani, Fernando Chamboco, Bruno Langa and Atletico Madrid man Reinildo Mandava should form the back four once again.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Sporting Lisbon winger Geny Catamo, who has 10 goals in 22 senior caps for Os Mambas, should team up with Ratifo and 30-year-old Gildo in the three-man attack.
Algeria possible starting lineup:
Guendouz; Ait-Nouri, Bensebaini, Mandi, Atal; Benzia, Zorgane, Boudaoui; Amoura, Gouiri, Mahrez
Mozambique possible starting lineup:
Ernani; Nanani, Chamboco, Reinildo, Langa; Guima, Amade, Santos; Catamo, Ratifo, Gildo
We say: Algeria 3-1 Mozambique
Algeria and Mozambique find themselves level points at the top of the table after five matches and we anticipate a thrilling contest on Tuesday as both sides look to get one over the other at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium.
While we expect Os Mambas to put up a fight, Petkovic's men boast a significantly superior and more experienced squad and we fancy them to come away with the desired result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
