Africa-Press – Angola. Since the first time in the history of clashes between them 39 years ago, with a zero draw on March 31, 1985, for the 1986 World Cup qualifiers, Angola and Algeria meet for the 10th time, this Monday, at CAN`2023, which takes place in Côte d`Ivoire.
Framed in group D, based in the city of Bouaké, the teams play again from 9 pm, at the Paz Stadium, when they have six draws, a victory for Palancas Negras (Angola) and two for the Desert Warriors ( Algeria).
The Angolans’ only triumph occurred on June 4, 2005, 2-1, as hosts, in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup, in Germany, where the national team was present for the first and only time.
On June 1, 2001, it was the Algerians’ turn to triumph at home, 3-2, in the qualifiers for the 2002 African Championship (CAN). The first victory, however, took place on April 19, 1985, curiously, also, 3-2, for the 1986 World Cup.
The last clash between the contenders ended 0-0, on January 18, 2010, at the 11 de Novembro stadium, in Luanda, for group A of the CAN that Angola hosted.
In terms of positioning in world and African football, the Palancas Negras were once in the final phase of the World Cup (Germany/2006) and at CAN level they only qualified for the quarter-finals twice, in 2008, in Ghana, and in 2010, as home owners.
The Desert Warriors have qualified for the World Cup four times: in 1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014, being continental champions in 1990 and 2019, in the latter they beat Senegal, 1-0, in a competition that took place in Egypt..
Therefore, the numbers point to favoritism for the Algerian team, currently with almost the same players as the triumph five years ago. Baghdad Bounedjah, who won the second continental title (2019) continues to be one of the “maestros” of the Algerians, currently playing at Al Sadd SC in Qatar.
Cogitations aside, the truth is that the Palancas Negras also have arguments to counter the clear favoritism of their opponents taking into account the numbers, despite presenting themselves in this competition, which started on Saturday (13), with a mix of youth and veteranity.
Veterans Fredy, from Turkey’s Alanyasprt, Buatu, from France’s Valencinnes, Keliano, from Portugal’s Amadora star, Mabululu, from Egypt’s Ittihad Alexandria and Jeremie Bela, from France’s Clermont Foot will lead youngsters with less experience, but capable and willful.
Zito Luvumbo, from Cagliari (Italy), Gelberto, from Petro (Angola), Depú, from Gil Vicente (Portugal), Show, from Maccabi Haifa (Israel), Gelson Dala, from Al Wakrah (Qatar), Zine, from Aek ( Greece), Bruno Paz, from Konyaspor and Loide Augusto, from Alanyasport (both from Turkey) are good examples of young people who can make a difference tonight at the Paz Stadium, in Bouaké.
The other clash in group D, in Angola, will only take place on Tuesday, between Burkina Faso and Mauritania, starting at 3 pm, at the Paz Stadium.
However, the competition calendar foresees, also for this Monday (15th), the opening clashes of group C with Senegal-Gambia (3 pm) and Cameroon-Guinea (6 pm), taking place at the Paz Stadium.
Constitution of the Angola team:
Goalkeepers: Neblú (1.o de Agosto), Gelson (Interclube), Kadu (Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal) and Dominique (Etoile Corouge, Switzerland).
Defenses: Tó Carneiro, Eddie Afonso, Inácio dos Santos and Quinito (Petro de Luanda), Jonathan Buatu (Valenciennes, Switzerland), Kialonda Gaspar (Estrela da Amadora, Portugal), Loide Augusto (Alanyasport, Turkey), Núrio Fortuna (Gent, Belgium).
Midfielders: Fredy (Eyupspor, Turkey), Beni (Casa Pia, Portugal), Bruno Paz (Konaysport, Turkey), Keliano Manuel (Estrela da Amadora, Portugal), Show (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Estrela (Erzurumsport, Turkey).
Forwards: Zine (AEK Athens, Greece), Mabululu (Ittihad Alexandria, Egypt), Milson (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel), Gelson Dala (Al Wakrah, Qatar), Jerémi Bela (Clermont, France), Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari, Italy ), Gilberto (Petro from Luanda), Depú (Gil Vicente from Portugal) and Francisco Sacalumbo “Banza” (Anorthosis from Cyprus).
Coach: Pedro Gonçalves (Portuguese)
Constitution of the Algeria national team:
Goalkeepers: Anthony Mandrea (Caen/FRA), Rais Mbolhi (CR Belouizdad/ALG), Oussama Benbot (USM Alger/ALG), Moustapha Zeghba (Damac/KSA)
Defenders: Youcef Atal (Nice/FRA), Kevin van den Kerkhof (Metz/FRA), Rayan Ait Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderer/ENG), Yasser Larouci (Sheffield United/ENG), Aissa Mandi (Villarreal/ESP), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance Tunis/TUN), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund/ALE), Ahmed Touba (Lecce/ITA), Zineddine Belaid (USM Alger/ALG)
Midfielders: Nabil Bentaleb (Lille/FRA), Sofiane Feghouli (Fatih Karagumruk/TUR), Houssem Aouar (Roma/ITA), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt/ALE), Ramiz Zerrouki (Feyenoord/HOL), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice/FRA ), Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan/ITA)
Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli/KSA), Adam Ounas (Lille/FRA), Mohamed Amoura (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL), Youcef Belaili (MC Alger/ALG), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al Sadd/QAT), Islam Slimani (Coritiba/BRA).
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