World Cup Qualifying - Africa | Group Stage

Mar 25, 2025 at 9pm UK

Algeria vs Mozambique

Match preview

Algeria marked their first outing of 2025 in style as they returned to World Cup qualifying action with a 3-1 win over Botswana at the Francistown Stadium last Friday.

Amine Gouiri broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time to give the visitors the lead going into the second half, before Mohamed El Amine Amoura scored either side of Tebogo Kopelang's 70th-minute strike to secure a share of the spoils.

Algeria have now gone eight games without defeat in all competitions, a run that has seen them go unbeaten in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and finish top of Group E with 16 points from a possible 18.

Head coach Vladimir Petkovic will be delighted with his side's performance in the World Cup qualifying race, as the Desert Warriors have won four and lost one of their five Group G matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding five.

Algeria, who are seeking a fourth World Cup appearance and their first since reaching the last 16 in 2014, currently top Group G with 12 points from a possible 15, level on points with their visitors on Tuesday.

Like their hosts, Mozambique continued their fine run of World Cup qualifying results with a 3-1 win over 10-man Uganda at the Cairo International Stadium on Thursday.

Pepo Santos scored either side of Muhammad Shaban's seventh-minute equaliser to give the Os Mambas a dream start before 30-year-old striker Stanley Ratifo sealed the result in first-half stoppage time.

Chiquinho Conde's side have now won three straight qualifiers, beating Somalia, Guinea and most recently Uganda, and are on a run of four wins from five qualifiers, scoring nine goals and conceding six.

Mozambique's only defeat came in November 2023 when they were beaten 2-0 by Algeria at the Estadio do Zimpeto thanks to second-half goals from Fares Chaibi and Feyenoord midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki.

While Mozambique will be looking for revenge at the Hocine Ait Ahmed Stadium on Tuesday to move three points clear at the top of Group G, they have lost three of their four meetings with Algeria, with a 1-0 win in January 1996 the exception.

Recent Performance

Algeria World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:WWLWW

Algeria form (all competitions):WWWDWW

Mozambique World Cup Qualifying - Africa form:WLWWW

Mozambique form (all competitions):WDWLWW

Team News

Amoura put in a solid individual performance against Botswana last week and the Wolfsburg man, who now has eight goals in Algeria's colours, should retain his place in the XI on Tuesday.

He should form a front three with 25-year-old Gouiri and veteran striker Riyad Mahrez, who is three games away from a century of appearances for the Desert Warriors, while we expect an unchanged midfield trio of Yassine Benzia, Adem Zorgane and Hicham Boudaoui.

At the back, Borussia Dortmund man Ramy Bensebaini, who made his debut in January 2017, should form a centre-back partnership with 33-year-old Aissa Mandi, who has 102 senior caps to his name.

Santos, making only his second appearance for Mozambique, played a part in all three goals against Uganda last time out and the Caldas SC midfielder will be looking to do the same.

He should team up with Guima and Alfons Amade in the middle of the park, while Nanani, Fernando Chamboco, Bruno Langa and Atletico Madrid man Reinildo Mandava should form the back four.

At the other end of the pitch, Sporting Lisbon winger Geny Catamo, who has scored 10 goals in 22 senior appearances for the Os Mambas, will join Ratifo and 30-year-old Gildo in a three-pronged attack.

Possible starting lineup

Algeria possible starting lineup:

Guendouz; Ait-Nouri, Bensebaini, Mandi, Atal; Benzia, Zorgane, Boudaoui; Amoura, Gouiri, Mahrez

Mozambique possible starting lineup:

Ernani; Nanani, Chamboco, Reinildo, Langa; Guima, Amade, Santos; Catamo, Ratifo, Gildo