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

An exciting North African affair awaits at the Stade Olympique de Rades on Friday when Tunisia and Algeria go head-to-head.

The teams are on a great run of form coming into the encounter, with both of them yet to suffer defeat since September 2019.

Match preview

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Algeria picked up a third straight win in all competitions following a 1-0 triumph over Mali at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium on Sunday.

Riyad Mahrez's second-half opener just before the hour mark was enough to hand the Desert Foxes a seventh consecutive home victory.

Djamel Belmadi's men will now aim to end a three-game winless run away from home since overcoming Nigeria in October 2020.

Previous meetings between Friday's opponents leaves little to choose between them, with 15 wins apiece and 13 draws in 43 matches.

However, the current AFCON holders emerged victorious in the most recent fixture involving the sides two years ago, which ended 1-0.

Tunisia got the better of DR Congo courtesy of a 1-0 victory when the sides met in an international friendly on Saturday.

Naim Sliti's strike on the cusp of half time proved to be the decider as Mondher Kebaier's men recorded a first clean sheet in four outings.

The Eagles of Carthage have now won five home games on the trot dating back to 2019 by a combined score of 13 goals to two.

Friday's hosts are now faced with the daunting task of handing their visitors a first loss since 2018, but their recent form suggests that they are as capable as anyone to do that.

Team News

Following his winner last time out, Riyad Mahrez has now netted 20 times for the visitors and currently occupies seventh position on their all-time scoring chart. Islam Slimani had to make do with a substitute appearance against Mali, but he is likely to be reinstated back into the starting XI for this one.

Should Slimani get the nod, the Lyon forward would relish an opportunity to move within touching distance of becoming his nation's record goalscorer.

Seifeddine Jaziri has scored three goals in his last two appearances for Tunisia after failing to score in any of the first three.

Jaziri played no part in the home team's last outing, but the 28-year-old is expected to be back in action for Friday's clash.

Tunisia possible starting lineup:

Hassen; Abdi, Meriah, Talbi, Kechrida; Laidouni, Sassi, Romdhane; Sliti, Khazri, Jaziri

Algeria possible starting lineup:

Oukidja; Abdellaoui, Touba, Bedrane, Atal; Boulaya, Belkebla, Feghouli; Mahrez, Slimani, Ghezzal

We say: Tunisia 1-2 Algeria

The game has all the makings of an enthralling contest, with two in-form teams going at each other in search of bragging rights. However, Algeria edge it in terms of squad quality, and we are backing them to come out on top.