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First leg score: Cameroon 0-1 Algeria.
Algeria have never lost a two-legged play-off when winning the first leg away. Their last meeting in Algeria resulted in a 1-1 draw back in 2016.
Under 2.5 goals is 4/11.
Draw and both teams to score is 9/2.
Match preview
Having lost the first leg at home, Cameroon have serious work to do as these two African giants reconvene in Blida.
On Friday evening in Douala, it was Algeria who went closest earlier on with Islam Slimani’s shot stinging André Onana’s fingertips.
Karl Toko Ekambi did go close to an equaliser a couple of times, but there was to be just one goal as Algeria travelled home with the advantage.
Will the North African nation make that lead count in this second leg?
Algeria looked like Africa’s strongest team not so long ago, lifting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and FIFA Arab Cup just last December.
However astonishingly, the Dessert Foxes crashed out of January’s AFCON in the group stages, losing to Equatorial Guinea and then Côte d’Ivoire.
Despite this, Djamel Belmadi held onto his positition as Head Coach, but is under serious pressure to lead Algeria to their fifth World Cup.
Cameroon meanwhile have it all to do after losing a competitive home game for the first time since 4 February 1973 on Friday.
Les Lions Indomitables have appeared at seven World Cups, an African record, but now look set to miss back-to-back editions for the first time since 1978.
Head Coach Rigobert Song won 137 caps as a player but, having lost his first match as manager, needs to oversee a famous comeback here.
Will Algeria’s admittedly slender first leg lead prove insurmountable at Mustapha Tchaker Stadium?
Algeria team news
Djamel Belmadi played a pretty defensive 5-4-1 in the first leg but, now with a 1-0 lead, isn’t likely to change that.
With Saïd Benrahma and Baghdad Bounedjah not in the squad, first leg scorer Islam Slimani will continue to lead the line.
Further back, Ismaël Bennacer and Ramiz Zerrouki will continue to be a solid midfield duo.
Riyāḍ Maḥrez will, as always, remain their main danger man having scored 26 international goals, including five in qualifying cycle so far.
Raïs M’Bolhi will win his 89th cap in goal, chasing down Lakhdar Belloumi’s national-record of 100.
Cameroon team news
Cameroon went bold in the first leg, playing all three of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar up front.
Well, needing to score, this approach will surely continue here.
Aboubakar’s tally of eight goals at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was the most scored at a single edition since Ndaye Mulamba’s nine in 1974.
In midfield, Olivier Ntcham will be hoping for his senior international debut having not featured in the first leg.
Key man André-Frank Zambo Anguissa missed that first leg through injury and is a doubt for this one too; a huge blow.
Seattle Sounders left-back Nouhou continues to impress though and could make a big move away from MLS in the not too distant future.
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