Algeria face DR Congo in the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations this afternoon, with a quarter final place on the line.
The clash takes place in Rabat after Algeria completed a flawless group stage. Three wins from three saw the Fennecs top Group E with a maximum nine points, underlining their credentials as one of the leading contenders for the title.
DR Congo progressed from Group D after finishing second behind Senegal, remaining unbeaten but falling just short of top spot.
Algeria v DR Congo Live Stream
The match will be shown live in the UK on Channel 4. Live streaming is also available via the bet365 Football Live Streaming platform, subject to account requirements.
Algeria v DR Congo kick off time, date and venue
Algeria v DR Congo will be played at the Moulay Hassan Stadium on Tuesday 6 January. Kick off is scheduled for 16:00 GMT.
With both sides aiming to build on solid group stage performances, Algeria will look to maintain their perfect record, while DR Congo hope to produce an upset and extend their stay in the tournament.
Algeria’s group campaign was capped by a confident 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea in their final match. Head coach Vladimir Petkovic rotated his squad heavily for that fixture, yet there was no visible drop in quality, highlighting the depth available to him as the tournament enters its knockout phase.
DR Congo, known as the Leopards, impressed in spells during the group stage but lacked the consistency shown by their opponents. While they avoided defeat across their three matches, they were unable to match Algeria’s intensity and cutting edge, which proved decisive in Group E.
Team News
Algeria will be without left back Jaouen Hadjam for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations clash after he suffered an ankle injury against Burkina Faso.
There are also concerns on the left side of defence over Rayan Ait-Nouri, who was forced off during Algeria’s group stage win over Equatorial Guinea. His fitness will be assessed ahead of kick off, leaving Algeria potentially short of options in that area.
In attack, Algeria continue to be inspired by Riyad Mahrez, who has enjoyed an excellent tournament so far. Mahrez has scored three goals at the finals, placing him just one behind Brahim Diaz of Morocco in the Golden Boot standings.
Despite the defensive concerns, Algeria will be hoping Mahrez’s form in front of goal can once again make the difference as they push deeper into the tournament.
The reward for victory this afternoon is a quarter final meeting with Nigeria on Saturday.
