Preview: Mozambique vs. Algeria - prediction, team news, lineups

Off the back of respective victories last time out, both teams now go in search of a second straight qualifying victory in their final competitive outing of the year.

Match preview

Algeria eased past the threat of the Somali Ocean Stars courtesy of a comprehensive 3-1 victory in Thursday's meeting at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.

Djamel Belmadi's men went into the interval in cruise control thanks to Ahmed Abdi's own goal and a Baghdad Bounedjah strike but soon had their advantage halved by Issa Abatari, after which Islam Slimani made sure of the result 10 minutes from time.

Consequently, the Fennec Foxes have now come out on top in six of their last nine matches across all competitions, drawing the other three.

Coming up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat in the only previous edition of this fixture.

Unbeaten away from home since the turn of the year, Sunday's visitors will fancy themselves to secure another positive result on enemy territory.

Mozambique emerged victorious from a highly-entertaining clash against Botswana, which ended in a 3-2 thriller at the Francistown Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Clesio Bauque and Stanley Ratifo either side of half time put Chiquinho Conde's men in the driving seat before their advantage was halved by Tlhalefang Molaodi, after which Jonathan Muiomo sealed the deal and rendered Mogakolodi Ngele's late strike inconsequential.

Os Mambas are now unbeaten in four of their last five matches, with a 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in October being their only defeat in that time.

Having recently ended a five-game winless streak on home turf, Sunday's hosts now go in search of consecutive wins in front of their fans for the first time since 2021.

Mozambique World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

W

Mozambique form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

L

W

Algeria World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:

W

Algeria form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

D

W

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Team News

Algeria's Islam Slimani will be pushing for a place in the starting lineup here after coming off the bench to good effect last time out.

Twenty-two-year-old Yasser Larouci recently made his full debut for the visitors and is expected to retain his place in the XI this weekend.

Faisal Bangal is a major doubt for Mozambique after the forward came off with an injury scare five minutes into the game against Botswana.

Should Bangal be deemed unfit to participate for the hosts, Stanley Ratifo is the favourite to be handed the nod to feature right from the off.

Mozambique possible starting lineup:

Siluane; Nene, Domingues, Langa, Macandza; Bauque, Amadu, Dove, Guimaraes; Ratifo, Vilanculos

Algeria possible starting lineup:

Mandrea; Atal, Tougai, Zerrouki, Larouci; Aouar, Mandi, Chaibi, Gouiri; Mahrez, Slimani

We say: Mozambique 1-4 Algeria

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