Algeria will battle it out with Niger in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification group F match at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki on Thursday.
Kick-off is at 11:00 pm CAT.
FORM
The Desert Foxes claimed a 2-0 win over Tanzania away in their previous group F match in June last year and they are enjoying a 10-match unbeaten run in the Afcon qualifiers.
The two-time African champions are sitting pretty at the top of the group standings - four points clear of second-placed Niger with four matches left.
Meanwhile, Niger managed to hold Uganda to a 1-1 draw away in their previous group F match in June last year as they stretched their winless run to five matches in the Afcon qualifiers.
The Menas will be keen to cause an upset by securing a victory over Algeria which would see the Western African side reduce the gap to one point.
TEAM NEWS
The Desert Foxes regulars Raïs Mbolhi and Said Benrahma have surprisingly been omitted from the latest Algeria squad, while France-born star Kevin Van Den Kerkhof has been given his maiden call-up.
On the other hand, experienced goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda and Turkey-based attacker Amadou Moutari are some of the noticeable absentees from the latest Niger squad.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Algeria head coach Djamel Belmadi
“The integration of new players is important and I will make sure that they can be in the best conditions," Belmadi said in a press conference.
"But there are also these two games against Niger and the need to win them, to be able to qualify for the NPC and then project to other things. Niger is often presented as a weak team, it is regrettable, it is wrong.
"There is only one player from Niger who played Chan in Algeria and is part of Team A. It’s a different team altogether, and they’re practically all playing overseas.”
Niger head coach Jean-Michel Cavalli
“I remember that when I arrived as the head of the Algerian national team in 2006, I did not have too many choices concerning the players evolving abroad at the time," Cavalli said on Algerie 360.
"When we had decided to face Argentina in a friendly in 2007, I had told the players that if we pass the course, then it is from there that Algeria will take on another dimension.
"I am proud to be the first link in this continuity. I am also proud of what Algeria has done."
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
Algeria and Niger have met nine times across all competitions.
The Desert Foxes have dominated this rivalry - winning eight matches and losing once to the Menas.
Algeria emerged as 5-0 winners over Niger in their last meeting which was a 2022 Chan semifinal match in Bir El Djir.