Ivory Coast and Algeria clash in Round 3 of Group E of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The match is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. GMT on Thursday, 20 January 2022. The match venue is Stade Japoma. Douala.

Latest betting odds

Ivory Coast to win odds are priced at 3.05 (+205 American; 41/20 Fractional), the odds for a draw are priced at 3.15 (+215; 43/20), while Algeria to win odds are priced at 2.45 (+145; 29/20).

The chances of these outcomes are as follows: Ivory Coast — 31%, draw — 30%, Algeria — 39%.

Latest betting odds on Ivory Coast vs Algeria (20 January 2022):

• Over 2.5 goals — 2.50 (+150; 3/2)
• Under 2.5 goals — 1.58 (-172; 25/43)
• Asian handicap (+0.25) on Ivory Coast — 1.77 (-130; 10/13)
• Asian handicap (-0.25) on Algeria — 2.04 (+104; 26/25)
• Both teams to score (Yes) — 2.25 (+125; 5/4)
• Both teams to score (No) — 1.61 (-165; 20/33)

Match preview and statistics

Ivory Coast are top of the Group E table with four points and a +1 goal difference. They have a win and a draw in the two games played in the tournament. The Elephants drew 2-2 with Sierra Leone in their Round 2 match.

Franck Kessie failed to convert the penalty in the 12th minute of the game and couldn’t put them up. The keeper went the right way and save his right footed shot in the bottom right corner. Sebastien Haller opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha with a through ball.

Musa Noah Kamara levelled the scores in the 54th minute of the second half with a left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner, assisted by Mohamed Buya Turay. Nicolas Pepe restored Cote d’Ivoire’s lead in the 64th minute with a left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner, assisted by Ibrahim Sangare.

Badra Ali Sangare made an error in the late minutes of the game that led to the equalizer for Sierra Leone. Steven Caulker quickly passed the ball to the centre to find Alhaji Kamara who buried the ball with a left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.

Nicolas Pepe balled out in the match, completed three dribbles, created the most chances (5), gave five key passes, two shots on target, won 10 duels and scored a goal. Eric Baily won five duels, made three clearances, 2/2 tackles succeeded, one interception and three recoveries.

Top stats: 61% possession, 18 total shots, 15 chances created, three big chances, eight shots on target, 411 accurate passes, 86% pass accuracy, 16 fouls conceded, 10 corners, two offsides.

Ivory Coast team news: no player is injured or suspended for this match.

Algeria are last in the group table with a point and a -1 goal difference. Their performance tournament has been an eyesore, seeing they could get eliminated from the group stage. The Foxes have a draw and a loss without scoring a single goal in the last two games in the tournament.

Their 37-game unbeaten run ended in their last match against Equatorial Guinea who beat them 0-1. Top stats: 69% possession, 13 total shots, 11 chances created, one big chance, three shots on target, 351 accurate passes, 83% pass accuracy, 14 fouls conceded, 11 corners, seven offsides, three yellow cards.

Esteban Obiang scored the winning goal for the National Thunder in the 70th minute of the second half with a right footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box to the bottom right corner, assisted by Josete Miranda following a corner.

Mohamed Youcef Belaili had a good performance in the game, created the most chances (4), gave four key passes, three accurate crosses, won six duels, completed two dribbles and two recoveries. Riyad Mahrez didn’t have a great game. He lost six duels and created only two chances.

Algeria team news: no player is injured or suspended for this match.

Ivory Coast vs Algeria H2H

Ivory Coast and Algeria have gone head-to-head four times. The former has one win, while the former has two wins with a draw. Their last meeting was in the 2019 AFCON quarter-final, Algeria won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 (AET) draw.

Key players and lineups

Ivory Coast projected starting lineup:

• Badra Ali Sangare
• Konan
• Eric Bailly
• Simon Deli
• Serge Aurier
• Jean Michael Seri
• Franck Kessie
• Ibrahim Sangare
• Wilfried Zaha
• Nicolas Pepe
• Sebastien Haller

Nicolas Pepe is the key player to watch out for. Pepe bailed out in the last game against Sierra Leone. His game by numbers: scored a goal, completed three dribbles, created five chances, gave five key passes, two shots on target, won 10 duels. He has the attitude towards this match and wants to have goal contributions.

Sebastien Haller is another player to watch out for. He showed his attacking prowess as he converted his chance and opened the scoring in the last match. Banking on him to be on the scoresheet in this game.

Algeria projected starting lineup:

• Rais M'Bolhi
• Youcef Attal
• Aissa Mandi
• Abdelkader Bedrane
• Ramy Bensebaini
• Sofiane Bendebka
• Ismael Bennacer
• Sofiane Feghouli
• Mohamed Youcef Belaili
• Riyad Mahrez
• Islam Slimani

The key player to watch out for is Mohamed Youcef Belaili. He had a good game in their last match against Equatorial Guinea, created four chances, gave four key passes, three accurate crosses, won six duels, completed two dribbles and two recoveries. Belaila has to be on the scoresheet in this match, either on the scoring or assisting ends.

Riyad Mahrez has to step up and lead his team to victory in this game. This match is an important one and a must win for them to secure their spot in the knockouts. The captain is a player to watch out for.

Betting tips and prediction

Ivory Coast are in top form ahead of the Round 3 match. They are top of the table and have a spot at the knockouts regardless of the outcome of this match. The Elephants have scored three goals so far and conceded two goals.

This is a must win game for Algeria. If Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea share the spoils, and they don’t beat Cote d’Ivoire that means they are going home. To seal a spot in the knockouts, the Elephants need to win this match. Ivory Coast was shocked by Sierra Leone in their Round 2 game. Algeria can do the same, they even have a better team than the Leone Stars.

Remember that Algeria were the one that knocked out Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFCON. Is this the time for Cote d’Ivoire to get revenge? we’ll find out in the match. With all this, Ivory Coast's form is hard to underestimate, a draw is the most feasible outcome for Algeria unless they ball out crazily. Predictions are Algeria to win, and over 2.5 goals.

Betting prediction: Algeria to win

Odds: 2.45 (+145 American; 29/20 Fractional)

Betting prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Odds: 2.50 (+150 American; 3/2 Fractional)