Preview: Algeria vs Burkina Faso - prediction, team news, lineups

[(Algeria) Strength]:
1. Currently leading Group E on goal difference, Algeria are level with Burkina Faso on 3 points. This head-to-head clash will likely determine the group winners, making a victory the top priority for Algeria.
2. Captain Riyad Mahrez is in sensational form. After scoring a brace in the opening match, he has equaled Baghdad Bounedjah's record to become the joint-second highest goalscorer in Algerian national team history.
3. Algeria dominated Sudan with a 3-0 victory in their last Africa Cup of Nations outing. They scored a lightning goal in the 2nd minute, and their opponents were reduced to 10 men by the 39th minute, showcasing Algeria's excellent control of the game.
4. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, has provided a steady presence between the sticks. His elite shot-stopping and accurate judgment of aerial balls make him a formidable last line of defense.
5. Algeria remained unbeaten in their last 15 matches, with the team in peak condition.

[(Algeria) Neutral]:
1. Algeria already successfully qualified for the 2026 World Cup. This edition of the Africa Cup of Nations provides a good opportunity to fine-tune the team's tactics, and there may be more rotations to experiment with different systems.

[(Burkina Faso) Strength]:
1. After defeating Equatorial Guinea in their last match, Burkina Faso need one win and one draw in their next two games to secure a spot in the knockout stages. The upcoming matches are crucial, and they must pick up points to avoid any upsets.
2. Burkina Faso possess two players playing in Europe's top five leagues, namely left-winger Dango Dango from Brentford and center-back Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer 04 Leverkusen, both valued at 35 million euros.
3. In their previous match against Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso scored twice in the 94th and 97th minutes to pull off a thrilling comeback victory, and team morale is currently very high.
4. Burkina Faso won all of their last 5 matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding only 5, indicating the team is in excellent shape.
5. Georgi Minoungou, who scored on his debut in the last match, is a player who is blind in his left eye. His inspirational story serves as a great motivator for the team's morale.

[(Burkina Faso) Neutral]:
1. In their past 5 H2H encounters, both teams have recorded 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss. Their most recent meeting ended in a 2-2 draw.

[(Burkina Faso) Weakness]:
1. In the World Cup qualifiers, Burkina Faso finished 2nd in Group A and failed to reach the tournament. Although they drew with qualification rivals Egypt, their performance against other opponents was mediocre, showing significant fluctuations in form.

[Tips]:
As one of the heavy favorites to lift the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, Algeria lived up to their seed status with a convincing victory in their opening match.

However, the team have shown a tendency to overcomplicate their finishing in the final third, occasionally squandering clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Despite this tactical quirk, their overall strength remains superior to that of Burkina Faso.

Although Burkina Faso secured a dramatic late winner against Equatorial Guinea in their last outing, their clinical finishing remains a concern.

They registered a staggering 13 shots from inside the box in that game, yet only managed 5 on target.

Given these efficiency issues, the in-form Algeria are widely expected to edge out a narrow victory in this encounter.

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