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

In search of their first point of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Djibouti welcome Algeria to the Cairo International Stadium on Friday.

Algeria, on the other hand, still have work to do in order to book their ticket at next year's event and will be looking to secure all three points in Egypt.

Match preview

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Algeria returned to winning ways away from home courtesy of a 4-0 thrashing of Niger at the Stade General Seyni Kountche on October 12.

Goals from Riyad Mahrez, Aissa Mandi, Ismael Bennacer and Baghdad Bounedjah secured a convincing victory for Djamel Belmadi's men.

Having picked up 10 points from their opening four matches, the Desert Foxes currently lead the way in Group A, albeit ahead of Burkina Faso only on goal difference.

Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing who suffered an 8-0 loss in the sides' only previous meeting on September 2.

With their destiny still in their own hands, Friday's visitors will be keen to keep it that way ahead of a high-stake contest versus the Burkinababe on Tuesday.

Djibouti were beaten for the fifth game on the bounce following a 2-0 defeat to Burkina Faso on October 11.

Goals in either half from Issoufou Dayo and Abdoul Tapsoba put Julien Mette's men to the sword at the Stade de Marrakech.

The Riverains de la Mer Rouge remain rooted to the bottom of the group and have now shipped 18 goals across their four outings.

Saturday's hosts, who have only found the back of the net on two occasions in that time, will need to get going at both ends of the pitch if they are to stand any chance of springing a surprise.

Team News

Djibouti's Aptidon Daher is ineligible to participate after he was given a straight red card last time out.

The likes of Fouad Moussa and Sabri Ali are favorites to replace Daher in the starting lineup for this one.

Following his opener versus Niger, Riyad Mahrez has now moved up to fifth on his nation's all-time scoring charts and is now closing in on the top four.

Islam Slimani grabbed four goals in the reverse fixture between Friday's opponents and the Lyon forward will be looking to add to his record 37 goals.

Djibouti possible starting lineup:
Hankuye; Ali, Moussa, Akinbinu; B. Mohamed, Hamza, Said, Farada; Batio, Yabe, F. Mohamed

Algeria possible starting lineup:
M'Bolhi; Mandi, Zeffane, Bensebaini, Atal; Bennacer, Belailli, Zerrouki; Mahrez, Slimani, Bounedjah

We say: Djibouti 0-4 Algeria

Algeria have already exhibited the gulf in class between the sides and will fancy themselves to claim another dominant triumph. We are tipping the away team to coast to victory, scoring plenty of goals en route.

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