After a lengthy pause, the qualification rounds for the 2017 AFCON tournament are finally underway. In group J, four teams - Algeria, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Seychelles - are all hoping to have a chance to feature in the big event taking place in Gabon next month. Currently, there are two sides who are in the clear running to seize top spot, but as each side have only played a couple of matches, the table rankings could easily change over the course of the next six months.
Algeria
In 2014, Algeria made history as the first African side to score four goals in a World Cup game when they put four past South Korea. In terms of the AFCON tournament, the Desert Foxes have featured in 17, and have won it once - when they hosted the event in 1990. Following that, their best ever finish was a fourth-placed spot in 2010, and in the last edition contested in 2015, they ended up making a run to the quarter-finals.
With promising players like Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez, who has been enjoying a fantastic season with the Foxes alongside English international Jamie Vardy, El Arbi Hillel Soudani, who plays his club football for Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb, and Islam Slimani, who currently features for Portuguese outfit Sporting CP, much will be expected of Christian Gourcuff's side.
Unfortunately for the team, Soudani, who is currently the top goalscorer so far in qualifying rounds with four goals, has suffered an injury and had to withdraw from the squad. Given that he scored a brace in each of Algeria's wins over Seychelles and Lesotho, his presence will be surely missed, and it will be interesting to see what line-up Gourcuff chooses in his absence.
Algeria are currently on top of group J with six points, and not surprisingly, they are the top-scoring side in their quartet, with seven goals. Next up for them will be Ethiopia, a team that, despite being well below them in the FIFA rankings, has enjoyed some success so far in qualifying rounds, meaning that they should not be taken lightly.
Ethiopia
Altough Ethiopia are presently ranked 120th in the world as per FIFA - as opposed to Algeria's 37th place - the Walia ibex have done pretty well so far in qualifying, with a win over Lesotho and a draw against Seychelles. Much of their success was during the late 1950's and 1960's. In 1962, Ethiopia won their first - and only to date - AFCON title, when they played hosts to the continental tournament, and in that same time frame, they finished third (in 1959) and in fourth twice (in 1963 and 1968).
Since then, success has eluded them. Friday's visitors did not qualify for the 2015 edition, and in 2013, were knocked out after the first round. So far, they have faced Algeria a total of six times, and their record stands as one win, three losses, and two draws; over that time frame, they have scored five and conceded eight.
With Ethiopia on four points - two behind Algeria's six - this game will likely decide who seizes top spot at the midway point of qualifying and will probably ultimately determine who books their ticket to next year's AFCON tournament in Gabon.
Which channel is broadcasting Algeria vs Ethiopia on TV or Online?
The Stade Mustapha Tchaker will be hosting this AFCON 2017 qualifying match between Algeria and Ethiopia. However, if you are too far away to attend in person, no problem. LiveSoccerTV.com has put together some options to catch the game via your TV, computer, phone, or tablet.
Here are some choices for fans residing in the following countries:
- In the USA at 15. 30 EST on: beIN SPORTS CONNECT U.S.A.
- In France at 20.30 CET on: beIN Sports 2
Live elsewhere? Check out our special Algeria vs Ethiopia broadcast page for viewing times and options for your current location.
*Note: Live broadcast data is subject to change*
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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