5 African Cup of Nations group stage games you just can’t miss

AFCON 2017 Group B - Algeria vs Tunisia

Riyad Mahrez will want to show his entire continent just why he is such a hot property in Europe

Algeria and Tunisia have both won a single AFCON trophy, with Tunisia’s coming in 2004 and Algeria’s back in 1990. Both teams, however, are frequently part of Africa’s contingent for the FIFA World Cup, making this is an interesting match-up.

Date: 19th January 2017Time: 09:30pm (IST)Venue: Stade de Franceville, Franceville

Algeria Team Preview

Algeria will have been watching the English Premier League with great interest in 2016. Leicester City’s miraculous title win and subsequent drop in form will at least give them a glimmer of hope, boasting Islam Slimani and superstar Riyad Mahrez in their ranks. The duo has struggled this season but have the quality & experience to come up with the goods.

The Algerians enjoyed a stellar qualification campaign, drawing a single game and scoring 25 goals to finish a distant first. Soudani finished as their top-scorer with 7, whilst Slimani and Mahrez both made positive contributions to their efforts. If they carry on like this, they’ll be very hard to stop.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Rais M’Bolhi, Malik Asselah, Chemseddine Rahmani

Defenders: Mokhtar Belkhiter, Mohamed Rabie Meftah, Aissa Mandi, Hicham Belkaroui, Liassine Cadamuro, Mohamed Benyahia, Ramy Bensebaini, Faouzi Ghoulam, Djamel Mesbah

Midfielders: Adlene Guedioura, Saphir Taider, Nabil Bentaleb, Mehdi Abeid, Yacine Brahimi, Rachid Ghezzal

Forwards: Islam Slimani, Riyad Mahrez, Hilal Soudani El Arabi, Baghdad Bounedjah, Sofiane Hanni

Tunisia Team Preview

Tunisia will be looking to make a mighty impression in this tournament, having disappointed - for their standards - in the last. With this being their 18th finals appearance, the squad may be ready to go all-out for only their second trophy.

The qualification campaign was straightforward, with the Tunisians downing Togo, Liberia & Djibouti to finish as clear group winners.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Aymen Mathlouthi, Rami Jeridi, Moez Ben Cherifia,

Defenders: Aymen Abdennour, Ali Maaloul, Hamza Mathlouthi, Mohamed Ali Yacoubi, Zied Boughattas, Chamseddine Dhaouadi, Hamdi Nagguez, Ghazi Abderrazzak, Oussama Haddadi, Yassine Meriah, Sliman Kchouk

Midfielders: Wahbi Khazri, Ferjani Sassi, Mohamed Amine Ben Amor, Saad Bguir, Hamza Lahmar, Youssef Msakni, Naïm Sliti, Larry Azouni

Forwards: Taha Yassine Khenissi, Ahmed Akaïchi