Algeria takes on Angola in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group D opener tonight in Bouake.

The Fennec Foxes, one of the teams predicted to contend for the championship, are heading to the Ivory Coast in hopes of recovering from a disastrous 2021 campaign in Cameroon, where their long-running unbeaten streak finally came to an abrupt end and they finished winless and bottom of their group.

2006 World Cup qualifying Angola will participating in its ninth AFCON, and it will be their first since they were knocked out in the group stage in 2019.

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They hosted the 2010 tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals in the previous two. This time around, they’ll probably be up against Mauritania to avoid finishing last.

Head-2-Head

Six of the eight previous encounters between these two teams have resulted in a draw, including their most recent match, which took place in the group stage of the 2010 AFCON competition in Angola, with a score of 0-0.

Algeria won both of their meetings in 1985 and 2001, while Angola’s lone victory over them was during their successful World Cup qualification campaign in Germany in 2006.

Here is how both teams line up for the game.

Algeria Starting XI

Mandrea, Atal, Ramy, Mandi, Ait Nouri, Chaibi, Bentaleb, Bennacer, Mahrez, Bounedjah, Belaili.

Angola Starting XI

Cipriano; Gaspar, Balanga, Buatu, Nurio; Loide; Ribeiro, Bruno, Cafumana; Luvumbo, Dala.