Fresh off the back of sealing top spot in Group E of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Algeria play host to Liberia in the group finale at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium on Sunday.
While both sides will be playing for pride, with their fate already known, the Lone Stars will head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts, having failed to win any of their last seven clashes since February 1999.
Match preview
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Algeria dropped points in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for the first time on Thursday when they played out a goalless draw with Equatorial Guinea at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo.
Vladimir Petkovic's men were guilty of a rare lack of cutting edge at the attacking end of the pitch as they managed just four shots, compared to Equatorial Guinea's 12, as both sides cancelled out each other's efforts.
Before that, Algeria picked up four wins from their four games in Group E, seeing off Equatorial Guinea and Liberia in September before beating Togo twice within the space of four days in October's double-header.
The Desert Warriors, who are 37th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, have picked up 13 points from a possible 15 in Group E to sit top of the standings, five points above second-placed Equatorial Guinea.
Algeria now draw the curtains on their qualifying campaign against an opposing side who have failed to win any of their previous seven encounters, losing four and claiming three draws since February 1999.
Elsewhere, already-eliminated Liberia picked up their first win of the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign as they edged out Togo 1-0 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on Thursday.
With nothing to separate the two sides heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, Mohammed Sangare came up clutch for the Lone Stars as he converted his 83rd-minute penalty to hand them a hard-fought victory.
Liberia had kicked off the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Togo at the Stade de Kegue on September 6 before losing three consecutive games, including back-to-back defeats against Equatorial Guinea in October's double-header.
Mario Marinica's men are now set to sit out yet another edition of the Africa Cup of Nations as they sit third in Group E with four points from a possible 12, four points adrift of Equatorial Guinea in the second qualifying spot.
Liberia's last AFCON appearance came back in 2002, when they suffered a group-stage exit after losing once and picking up two draws to finish third in the Group A standings, one point above rock-bottom Algeria.
Team News
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Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini had to come off at half time due to an injury against Equatorial Guinea on Thursday and the 29-year-old is a major doubt for Sunday's clash.
In his absence, 31-year-old Mohamed Amine Madani could be handed a starting role, teaming up with Mohamed Tougai and Lille man Aissa Mandi in the three-man defence.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Riyad Mahrez should lead the Eagles' attack alongside Mohamed Amoura while Said Benrahma, Adem Zorgane and Feyenoord's Ramiz Zerrouki should team up in midfield.
Fresh off the back of securing their first win in Group E, Marinica could name a similar starting XI this weekend, with Mark Pabai, Prince Balde, Sampson Dweh and Sabastine Teclar forming the back four once again.
Skipper Oscar Dorley should team up with Divine Teah in the Lone Stars midfield, while 23-year-old striker Emmanuel Ernest is a doubt after coming off injured midway through the second half against Togo in midweek.
Algeria possible starting lineup:
Oukidia; Madani, Tougai, Mandi; Ait Nouri, Benrahma, Zerrouki, Zorgane, Farsi; Amoura, Mahrez
Liberia possible starting lineup:
Koulibaly; Pabai; Balde, Dweh, Teclar; Toe, Dorley, Teah, Ledlum; Kumeh, Gibson
We say: Algeria 2-0 Liberia
While this weekend's game is nothing but a dead rubber for both Algeria and Liberia, both sides will go out to secure bragging rights and close out the campaign on a high. Given the gulf in quality and experience between the two teams, we predict that the Desert Warriors will extend their dominance over Liberia in front of their home fans.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
