Cameroon vs Algeria betting tips: African World Cup play-off first leg preview, predictions and odds
Tahrat, Mehdi
Guedioura, Adlene
Ondua, Gael
Bendebka, Sofiane
Feghouli, Sofiane
Belfodil, Ishak
Soni, Kevin
Tawamba, Leandre
Recommended bets
Draw and under 2.5 goals is 12/5.
Match preview
Ramy Bensebaïni celebrates after scoring during the penalty shootout of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter final football match between Ivory Coast and Algeria at the Suez stadium in Suez on July 11, 2019. (FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
These two powerhouses have won seven Africa Cup of Nations titles between them, but only one will be going to Qatar in November.
Cameroon have qualified for seven World Cups in their history, an African record, but missed out on Russia, despite appearing at six of the previous seven editions.
Already in this campaign, les Lions Indomitables have had to knockout fellow-giants Côte d’Ivoire, winning a do or die game 1-0 in November.
Since then, Cameroon have hosted an AFCON for the first time in 50 years and, as such, were expected to lift the trophy.
They did beat Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Comoros and the Gambia but were eventually eliminated at the semi-final stage by Egypt on penalties.
Just two days later, they came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Burkina Faso in the third-place play-off before winning that on penalties.
This means, with both technically ending in draws, Cameroon still haven’t lost a competitive match on home soil since a defeat to Zaire in 1973.
Nevertheless, Toni Conceição was sacked as Head Coach last month with Rigobert Song, who won 137 caps as a player, taking his first senior job in management.
Will Cameroon’s record caps holder make a winning start as manager in Douala?
Algeria meanwhile were amongst also the favourites to lift the trophy at AFCON 2021 having won their second African title last time round in 2019.
However, the Dessert Foxes embarrassingly crashed out in the group stages, drawing with Sierra Leone before defeats to Equatorial Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire.
Despite this, Head Coach Djamel Belmadi is still in charge, but is under serious pressure to deliver World Cup qualification.
Algeria scored 25 goals in their six games to get this far, hammering Djibouti and Niger whilst edging out Burkina Faso to first place.
So, the Greens are within touching distance of a fifth World Cup appearance, most recently appearing at 2010 and 2014 iterations.
Can Algeria end Cameroon’s 49-year unbeaten home streak at Stade de Japoma?
Cameroon team news
Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the FIFA 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifying football match between Cameroon and Ivory Coast at Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde on November 16, 2021. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
It’s fair to say that Vincent Aboubakar and Karl Toko Ekambi will be key to Cameroon’s success in this tie.
They scored eight and five goals respectively at AFCON with Aboubakar’s haul the most at a single tournament since Ndaye Mulamba’s nine in 1974.
They’re likely to lead the line with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting left in reserve.
Elsewhere, Swansea midfielder Olivier Ntcham could make his international debut after switching allegiance from France.
He’s likely to parter André-Frank Zambo Anguissa of Napoli in central midfield.
Goalkeeper André Onana has been shaky since returning from his ten-month drugs ban, but will need to be at his best for this tie.
Algeria team news
CAIRO, EGYPT – JULY 19: Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez lifts the trophy as his team celebrate winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Final between Senegal and Algeria at at the Cairo International Stadium on July 19, 2019 in Cairo, Egypt. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
11 players who were in the Africa Cup of Nations squad just two months ago have not been called up this time.
These include Yacine Brahimi, Baghdad Bounedjah, who got the winner in the 2019 final, West Ham’s Saïd Benrahma and Adam Ounas of Napoli.
Riyāḍ Maḥrez is included of course and he’ll be dreaming that his 27th international goal can fire his country back to the World Cup.
Without Bounedjah, veteran Islam Slimani of Sporting CP could lead the line.
Further back, A.C. Milan’s Ismaël Bennacer is, without doubt, one of the best midfielders in African football.
Ramy Bensebaïni and Aïssa Mandi will be hoping for more defensive solidity than was on show in Cameroon just ten weeks ago.
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Burundi vs Cameroon - 0:1
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Algeria vs Cameroon - 1:2
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Cameroon vs Algeria - 0:1
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Burkina Faso vs Cameroon - 3:3
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Cameroon vs Egypt - 0:0
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Latest match form, last 5 games: |
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Iran vs Algeria - 1:2
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Algeria vs DR Congo - 3:0
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Tanzania vs Algeria - 0:2
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Algeria vs Niger - 1:0
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Algeria vs Uganda - 2:0
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| June 9, 2022 | Africa Cup of Nations, Qualification 2023 | Burundi | 0 - 1 | Cameroon |
| March 29, 2022 | WC Qualification, CAF 2022 | Algeria | 1 - 2 | Cameroon |
| March 25, 2022 | WC Qualification, CAF 2022 | Cameroon | 0 - 1 | Algeria |
| February 5, 2022 | Africa Cup of Nations 2022 | Burkina Faso | 3 - 3 | Cameroon |
| February 3, 2022 | Africa Cup of Nations 2022 | Cameroon | 0 - 0 | Egypt |
| June 12, 2022 | Int. Friendly Games 2022 | Iran | 1 - 2 | Algeria |
| June 9, 2022 | Int. Friendly Games 2022 | Algeria | 3 - 0 | DR Congo |
| June 8, 2022 | Africa Cup of Nations, Qualification 2023 | Tanzania | 0 - 2 | Algeria |
| June 6, 2022 | Int. Friendly Games 2022 | Algeria | 1 - 0 | Niger |
| June 4, 2022 | Africa Cup of Nations, Qualification 2023 | Algeria | 2 - 0 | Uganda |
| Cameroon | Algeria | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Matches played | 8 |
| 6 | Matches won | 5 |
| 66 | Goal attempts | 63 |
| 25 | Shots on goal | 33 |
| 26 | Shots off goal | 21 |
| 28 | Corner kicks | 44 |
| 33% | Average ball possession | 21% |
| 15 | Shots blocked | 9 |
| 10 | Cards given | 12 |
| 92 | Free kicks | 59 |
| 9 | Offsides | 10 |
| 1 | Shots on post | 0 |
| 10 | Goals by foot | 20 |
| 4 | Goals by head | 5 |
| 14 | Goals scored | 27 |
| 5 | Goals conceded | 6 |
| 0 | Shots on bar | 1 |
| Cameroon | Algeria | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Matches | 4 |
| 2 | Home Matches | 2 |
| 2 | Away Matches | 2 |
| 5 | Total Goals | 3 |
| 1.25 | Average Goals Scored | 0.75 |
| 2 | Wins | 1 |
| 1 | Losses | 2 |
| 1 | Draws | 1 |
| March 29, 2022 | WC Qualification, CAF 2022 | Algeria | 1 - 2 | Cameroon |
| March 25, 2022 | WC Qualification, CAF 2022 | Cameroon | 0 - 1 | Algeria |
| October 7, 2017 | World Cup Qualification 2018 | Cameroon | 2 - 0 | Algeria |
| October 9, 2016 | World Cup Qualification 2018 | Algeria | 1 - 1 | Cameroon |
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What time is kick off between Cameroon vs Algeria?
17:00, Friday 25 March 2022
