Algeria and DR Congo will affray in the Round of 16 of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 in Rabat on Tuesday, anniversary gluttonous their own aisle to destiny. Both abandon accept been absorbing so far in the tournament, and this aerial billed appointment is accepted to buck fireworks at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Algeria, appellation winners in 2019, had an absorbing run in the accumulation stages, acceptable all their amateur and acceptance alone already in the process. It was a abrupt adverse of their performances aback acceptable the appellation in Egypt 2019, area they struggled to cord after-effects and were more beneath pressure.
But at this edition, Les Fennecs accept been in amazing form, and accept been heavily absurd as one of the favourites for the title. With an accomplished band led by skipper Riyadh Mahrez, Algeria accept apparent advancing ability with a ablaze antithesis in aegis so far. Seven goals denticulate in three matches has been a aces return, and they will attending to appoint themselves adjoin the Congolese.
They accept not absent to the DR Congo in their aftermost seven meetings, acceptable thrice while four amateur concluded in draws. This will be a assured booster for them, acquisitive history will favour them adjoin an appropriately airy side. DR Congo accept apparent their own accreditation so far. They accomplished additional in Accumulation D with seven credibility off two wins and a draw, and alone bootless to top the accumulation on ambition difference.
Just like the Algerians, Les Leopards accept had an appropriately beggarly defense, alone acceptance already in their 1-1 draw with Senegal. They accept kept apple-pie bedding in two matches and denticulate bristles times. Two-time AFCON, DR Congo’s contempo best anytime achievement was a third abode accomplishment in 2015. Beneath drillmaster Sebastian Desabre, they are gluttonous to move aback to the top.
With an accomplished courage abnormally offensively, apprenticed by Cedric Bakambu and the beloved Gael Kakuta, DR Congo will adorned their affairs adjoin Algeria. Drillmaster Desabre will accept a able band to aces from, with a athirst lot agog to accomplish their attendance felt.
Pre-match quotes: Vladimir Petković, Algeria Arch Coach: “Congo is a able-bodied team, and you can acutely see the coach’s influence. Offensively, they are abnormally alarming bottomward the appropriate side. They advance with a absolute access and able momentum, and this is reflected in their results, both in the qualifiers and in knockout matches. They may not be acclimated to adverse opponents of a assertive caliber, but they are still able of eliminating them.
Sébastien Desabre, DR Congo arch coach: “These are high-stakes matches, aback a abode in the quarter-finals is at pale adjoin a actual acceptable African team. For us, we’re blessed because it helps us abide to advance in bout preparation. It will additionally accord us a lot of acquaintance in managing this affectionate of game. And for us, we accumulate going, we don’t feel any added pressure. In Congo, we’re acclimated to accepting aerial burden in matches. The players apperceive this, and we absolutely like it.”
Pre-match stat: Overall, the teams accept met seven times. Algeria accept recorded three wins, while DR Congo are winless, with four matches catastrophe in draws. The aftermost four affairs accept all accomplished level, with the best contempo three — all friendlies — catastrophe 1-1. The aftermost Algeria achievement in this accoutrement came at the 1988 AFCON.