Algeria vs D.R. Congo prediction: AFRICA: Africa Cup of Nations – Play Offs betting tips on match 2026-01-05 16:00.
[p]A place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) awaits the winner as an almost foot-perfect Algeria meet D.R. Congo in Rabat. [/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Algeria put back-to-back group stage eliminations since their last AFCON triumph in 2019 behind them as they secured passage to the last 16 with a perfect record this time around (W3). Now unbeaten within 90 minutes in their last 19 matches (W11, D8), the Greens are among the favourites to go all the way in this tournament, though a resounding win here appears unlikely as just one of the last four AFCON knockout games involving Algeria were settled by a 2+ goal margin, while they’ve only gone past the first knockout round once since 2010![/p]
[p]Following their 3-0 rout of Botswana in the final group game, D.R. Congo managed to progress from the group stage for a fourth successive tournament appearance with a four-point gap to third (W2, D1). Going all the way to the semi-final in the 2023 edition, the Leopards have a tough task on their hands to repeat that feat here, although both of their round of 16 appearances since the tournament’s expansion in 2019 have required penalties to find a winner. Ironically, the side starting as the outsider won both of those games, with D.R. Congo eliminated by Madagascar and getting the better of Egypt more recently. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]This will be the first meeting between Algeria and D.R. Congo since a 2022 friendly, when Algeria maintained their unbeaten record in this fixture with a 3-0 win. There was just one goal scored across two prior AFCON tournament meetings. [/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Algeria have not conceded the opening goal in any of their last nine games.[/p]
[p]Algeria have received fewer cards than their opponents in each of their last four matches.[/p]
[p]Seven of D.R. Congo’s last eight matches saw under 2.5 goals.[/p]
[p]D.R. Congo have opened the scoring in nine of their last ten internationals.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Ibrahim Maza is enjoying a breakout tournament with Algeria, with his goal and assist in their final group game taking his goal involvement tally to seven across his last nine appearances for club and country (G3, A4). D.R. Congo’s Gaël Kakuta stunned Botswana in his first start of the competition with two goals and an assist, which represents his very first goal involvements at a major international tournament. [/p]
[p]Rayan Aït-Nouri and Samir Chergui are two of a number of doubts for Algeria ahead of this clash, while D.R. Congo seem to have no fresh injury concerns. [/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]The red-hot form of both sides here suggests that we could see a goal-fuelled affair, so we’re going for an Algeria win and both teams to score selection. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Matthew Billon[/i][/p]