Analysis
The Algerians can only feel sorry about their fate. Despite exhibiting great possessive football with one-twos and quick reaction on the ball in their first two AFCON 2013 matches, they now find themselves out of the competition.
Football is mostly about scoring and that is what Algeria failed to do against Tunisia and Togo respectively. Pride will be at stake against Ivory Coast.
As the first team to qualify for quarter-finals of the tournament, the Elephants have made good use of Yaya Toure and Gervinho’s influence. These two players are set to be given a rest by their manager against Algeria. Didier Drogba, who is yet to explode on stage in South Africa, might also support his team mates from the bench.
Algeria’s most recent match stats (2-0 loss against Togo)
Ball possession: 64 per cent; Corners: 18; Shots on target: 4; Shots wide: 10; Fouls: 14; Offsides: 4
Ivory Coast’s most recent match stats (3-0 win against Tunisia)
Ball possession: 55 per cent; Corners: 3; Shots on target: 6; Shots wide: 6; Fouls: 16; Offsides: 7
Facts
• Algeria have now missed out on Last 8 tickets for the fourth time since 1990 when they claimed the cup.
• Ivory Coast are looking to extend their perfect record to six consecutive matches since August 2012 when they drew with Russia in a friendly encounter.
• Algeria have not scored a single goal since defeating Libya 2-0 in the AFCON qualifiers in October 2012.
Table
| AFRICA CUP: GROUP D 2014 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Côte d'Ivoire | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | |
Togo | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | |
Tunisia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 3 |
| 4 |  |
Algeria | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Prediction
Algeria 1-1 Ivory Coast
