The Algerian national team will kick off its title defense at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday with a seemingly manageable match against Sierra Leone in Douala, part of Group E. They are among the top candidates to win the 33rd edition being held in Cameroon until February 6. Meanwhile, the Egyptian team enters the competition from Bafoussam (western Cameroon) with an early clash against Nigeria in Group D.
Algerian star and team captain Riyad Mahrez stated that his team is ready for the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon. The Manchester City player said during a press conference on Monday, alongside coach Djamel Belmadi: "We will participate in the Africa Cup of Nations again, but this time as the defending champion. This does not necessarily mean we will win or that we are the top favorites... The level of the tournament is higher this time, and the level of opponents is better compared to the previous edition, but our ambition remains great to repeat the achievement of 2019 and defend Algeria's colors."
The "Desert Warriors" will begin their title defense on Tuesday at 14:00 local time (13:00 GMT) against the modest Sierra Leone at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, in Group E, which also includes Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast. Belmadi, the ironman who has brought his country back to winning ways since taking over the coaching duties in August 2018, confirmed that his goal has not changed, stating, "The ambition is to win the cup as we did in 2019, and we will do what is necessary to maintain the title."
The "Desert Warriors" have not lost in their last 34 matches, since November 2018 when they won against Togo 4-1, a record in the continent. Belmadi has retained the core strength that won the African crown in Cairo in July 2019 (Mahrez, Raïs M'Bolhi, Youssef Belaili, Baghdad Bounedjah, Ismaël Bennacer, Islam Slimani, Ramy Bensebaïni...) and even strengthened it with a group of new players, including Charleroi's Adam Zorgane and Twente's Ramiz Zerrouki, as well as Metz's forward Frédéric Boulaya and Esperance Tunis defender Abdelkader Bedrane.
Algeria will play its second group match next Sunday against Equatorial Guinea and the third on January 20 against Ivory Coast. Belmadi and his "warriors" will seek to secure victories against Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea to advance to the Round of 16, facing the Ivorians with peace of mind.
**Egypt and Mohamed Salah Face a Risky Task Against Nigeria**
The Egyptian team will begin its campaign in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations with a risky encounter against Nigeria at 17:00 (16:00 GMT) in Bafoussam, led by star Mohamed Salah and under the guidance of their new coach, Portuguese Carlos Queiroz. Group D also includes Guinea-Bissau and Sudan. According to Al-Ahram’s website, Egypt will play in "the colors of the flag with red shirts, white shorts, and black socks, while the Nigerian team will wear green."
The mission for the "Pharaohs" against the "Green Eagles" is to rekindle their love affair with a tournament they have won seven times, the last being in 2010, and to reclaim glory that faded for seven years until 2017, when they reached the finals but lost to Cameroon 2-1. This mission also aims to restore the team's image after their failure in the 2019 edition hosted by Egypt, where they exited in the Round of 16 against South Africa.
Queiroz has chosen a squad primarily based on local players from Cairo’s football giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek, supplemented by six professionals, including Salah, Arsenal's midfielder Mohamed Elneny, and Aston Villa striker Mahmoud Hassan "Trezeguet."
The Portuguese coach stated on the eve of the match that Egypt's ambitions are "simple"—to "win all the matches," adding: "We have a great team, and we will give our best."
According to "Sport 360," the Egyptian lineup against Nigeria will feature goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy; in defense: Akram Tawfiq, Mahmoud El-Wansh, Ahmed Hegazi, and Ahmed Fattouh; in midfield: Abdullah El-Said, Hamdi Fathy, and Mohamed Elneny; and in attack: Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Mostafa Mohamed.
On Nigeria's side, things are not going well as the team faces some absences due to COVID-19. It is noteworthy that the Football Federation dismissed German coach Gernot Rohr in December and temporarily appointed Augustin Eguavoen, who played in the 1994 World Cup, as his successor.
