Referee Ahmed Heeralall speaks to Ismail Bennacer of Algeria during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals football match between Algeria and Sierra Leone at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon. /CFP
The Defending Champions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Algeria, are staring at early elimination unless they overcome Group E table-toppers Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday.
The Desert Foxes are currently at the bottom of the group with a single point from two games, having drawn with Sierra Leone and lost to Equatorial Guinea.
The North Africans, boasting of enviable attacking talents like Riyad Mahrez, Baghdad Bounedjah, Youcef Belaïli, Sofiane Feghouli, are yet to find the back of the net in the Cameroon tournament.
Despite their gold drought, Algeria had attempted the most number of shots in this year's tournament (32), coming into Match Day 3.
Côte d'Ivoire on the other hand has won one game and drawn another and will be looking to secure their qualification as Group leaders in order to get favorable opponents in the next round.
Côte d'Ivoire and Algeria's game will mark the ninth time that the two sides have clashed at AFCON.