Soccer

Algeria should provide stern test for Bafana

Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane might effectively return for this match.

An Algeria aspect rebuilding after a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations will tackle Bafana Bafana in a pleasant worldwide on the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on Tuesday.

While Hugo Broos’ Bafana exceeded expectations on the AFCON within the Ivory Coast, selecting up a bronze medal, Algeria had a dismal event, managing simply two factors and ending backside of their group.

That spelled the top of the highway for head coach Djamel Belmadi, with Swiss mentor Vladimir Petkovic taking on the reins. Petkovic opened his account on Friday as Algeria beat Bolivia 3-2, additionally on the Nelson Mandela Stadium, with Villareal defender Aissa Mandi grabbing a stoppage-time winner.

These friendlies are all a part of the Fifa International Series, a event designed by the world footballing physique to present groups from completely different confederations extra of an opportunity to play one another.

Bafana performed their first recreation of the sequence on Thursday towards European minnows Andorra, in a recreation that resulted in a 1-1 draw.

Algeria are with out common captain Riyad Mahrez, the previous Manchester City star asking to be overlooked of the squad, whereas Islam Slimani, Algeria’s all-time main goalscorer, has additionally been omitted. 

But there’s nonetheless an abundance of overseas-based high quality within the Desert Foxes squad. The skilled Baghdad Bounedjah, now based mostly in Qatar, led the road towards Bolivia alongside Rennes attacker Amine Gouiri, who scored Algeria’s first objective.

Algeria might be with out Borussia Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini, in the meantime, after he limped off simply 19 minutes into the sport towards Bolivia.

Bafana again to full-strength?

Bafana arrived in Algiers on Saturday, after enjoying their opening pleasant towards Andorra in Annaba.

Broos is prone to discipline a far stronger line-up towards the Desert Foxes, with almost the entire Sundowns gamers that starred within the Africa Cup of Nations finals rested for Thursday’s draw.

The likes of Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane might effectively return, whereas it stays to be seen if the Bafana head coach rewards Sekhukhune’s Elias Mokwena, Bafana’s finest participant and goalscorer towards Andorra, with one other likelihood.


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