AFCON 2023: Fennecs Foxes of Algeria fights for pride in last match against

Posted : 22 January 2024

Having lost the glorious chances of earning maximum points from the last two matches against teams that they are ahead of in ranking, the Fennecs Foxes of Algeria will now have to fight for their pride in the last match against the Almoralvidi of Mauritania. The Fennecs Foxes had spurned their chances, especially in the unfortunate 1-1 draw against the Stallions of Burkina Faso in the very first match, because it was a match they had more control over, with 67 percent possession against the Stallions, who had 33 percent.

Also, the Fennec Foxes dominated the match with 16 shots, with three shots on targets, as opposed to the Stallions, who had one shot at goal, which was their only goal of the match. The Fennecs Foxes in the match against the Stallions completed 514 passes, the highest so far in the group, and had 85 percent pass accuracy, but all these eventually counted for nothing as they eventually settled for a stalemated 1-1 draw. Things eventually turned worse for the one-time AFCON winners as they drew the second match 2-2 against the Pelancras Negras of Angola, which ultimately exposed them as the weaker side.

However, going into their last group match, they will be facing a side they have yet to play with in an AFCON competition. For Almoralvidi of Mauritania, they have lost four of their last five matches against Algeria across all competitions, although their last meeting with the Fennec Foxes was a goalless draw in an international friendly in December 2022. Mauritania in this AFCON 2023 is still without a win in their eight games in the competition so far, having two draws and six losses.

For the fumbling Fennec Foxes of Algeria, they are now without a win in five successive Africa Cup of Nations games, having three draws and two losses, setting a bad record since 2013. After failing to win any of their group games in the 2021 edition of AFCON or at this edition, Algeria could go six such games without a win since doing so between 1984 and 1988. The Fennecs Foxes of Algeria have conceded the opening goal in three of their last four games at the Africa Cup of Nations, as many times as in their prior 13 matches in the competition.

While Baghdad Bounedjah has scored all three of Algeria’s goals in this edition of AFCON so far, only Djamel Menad (4) has ever scored more in a single edition of the tournament for them. Also, Adam Ounas has been involved in five goals in five AFCON appearances for Algeria (3 goals, 2 assists), averaging a goal involvement every 32 minutes in the competition (160 minutes played overall). So, having made a hugely disappointing start to AFCON 2023, Algeria’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage rest on them securing a positive result in their final game.

Fortunately for the North Africans, they will be facing a Mauritania side in what should be their easiest match so far at the tournament. The Fennec Foxes of Algeria will be up against a Mauritania side who have never won a game at the Africa Cup of Nations (two draws and six losses in eight games). They have the perfect chance to get their campaign back on track.

After stumbling against Angola in their opening match, Algeria needed a 95th-minute Baghdad Bounedjah equaliser to rescue a point against Burkina Faso. Bounedjah has scored all three of Algeria’s goals at AFCON 2023 (3), meaning he is now two goals away from setting a new record for the most goals scored by an Algerian at any edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. Maybe Algeria will once again rely on the services of Baghdad Bounedjah to help get a victory over the Almoralvidi of Mauritania.

AFCON 2023: Fennecs Foxes of Algeria fights for pride in last match against

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