Algeria should prove too strong for Angola at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké, although be wary of backing teams at short odds for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we traditionally see low-scoring clashes when it comes to the African Cup of Nations, with the Angolans likely to be delighted with an outcome which sees them take a point from this encounter.
With Burkina Faso and Mauritania also lying in wait, there’s a chance for the underdogs to still go through even if they experience defeat, with the Fennec Foxes boasting an unbeaten record for 2023 and AFCON qualification was achieved with a minimum of fuss. There were five wins from six encounters which included nine goals being scored and just two conceded along the way.
One alternative to considering the short odds for Algeria to actually win the game is to back them to win the clash without conceding. By going down the Team + BTTS No market route instead, you can secure bigger odds and it’s often the case that a single goal decides the outcome of these clashes, with a 1-0 scoreline easy to back.
Mahrez is capable of unpicking a tight and defensively organised rearguard, with Angola having finished second in Group E to book their place in this tournament. However, they are without a victory in any of their past six encounters, with a succession of recent goalless draws highlighting their overall lack of ambition.