Will Algeria secure victory in their group?
There is still plenty of excitement in Group A of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in the CAF zone. After all, two nations still have a chance to win the group on the last matchday. Among them are the big favourites from Algeria, who approach the group final with a promising starting position.
Even a draw would be enough for Algeria to win the group on their own merits and thus advance to the next qualifying round. The visitors from Burkina Faso, on the other hand, are under pressure to win, because only an away coup can dethrone the leaders from Algeria.
Ods of 1.30 are offered for a home win for Algeria against Burkina Faso. The two nations drew level on points in the first leg.
Because Burkina Faso also drew against Niger last time out and also have a worse goal difference than Algeria, the Burkina Faso national team is likely to go into their final group game with an “all or nothing” mentality.
Algeria – Statistics & current form
Although Algeria have won four of their five group matches in the current qualifying round, they are still mathematically in contention to win the group. Burkina Faso are breathing down the Algerians’ necks and could even knock the Desert Foxes off the top of the table on the final matchday. Algeria will therefore start the last match in the group with their best players.
In the second round of World Cup qualifying in the CAF zone, Algeria are currently the best attackers on the African continent. The desert foxes have already scored a total of 23 goals in five group matches. That is an average of more than four goals per group game. Djibouti recently experienced just how strong Algeria’s attack is.
The Algerian national team rolled over the last-placed team in Group A with a 4-0 win, thus celebrating its third victory in a row. With Algeria already leading 3-0 at half-time, coach Djamel Belmadi even had room for rotation after the break.
Will Algeria ensure a clear balance of power in Group A?
The aim now is to build on this against the Burkinabe national team. In the first leg, the two nations played out a surprising draw in which the Desert Foxes even squandered a half-time lead. Nevertheless, Algeria will approach the last match with a broad chest, after all, the leaders also benefited from home advantage in Blida this time.
Just how important home advantage is for the Algerians can be seen from a brief look at their home record in recent years. Indeed, Algeria have won every international match at home since October 2019. The Algerian national team has now won ten home matches in a row.
If they can build on their record against the Burkinabe side, odds of 1.30 on Algeria vs Burkina Faso are available for the Algerian hosts. No major changes from the last starting eleven are expected.
Predicted line-up of Algeria:
Oukidja; Mandi, Bedrane, Bensebaini, Halaimia; Bennacer, Belailli, Feghouli; Mahrez, Slimani, Benrahma
Last matches played by Algeria:
World Cup Qualifiers CAF – 2nd Round – Grp. A
11/12 2021 – Djibouti 0 – 4 Algeria
10/12 2021 – Niger 0 – 4 Algeria
10/08 2021 – Algeria 6 – 1 Niger
09/07 2021 – Burkina Faso 1 – 1 Algeria
09/02 2021 – Algeria 8 – 0 Djibouti
Burkina Faso – Statistics & current form
Burkina Faso have never qualified for a World Cup before. Therefore, the course of the group stage so far in the second round of the African World Cup qualifiers 2022 was all the more surprising. After five match days, Burkina Faso at least kept their chance of winning the group alive and now face a showdown with Algeria.
The Burkina Faso national team remained unbeaten in its five previous group matches. Les Étalons” even won three of their five group matches. Only against Algeria and Niger did Burkina Faso fail to score maximum points. In the most recent draw against Niger, the Burkinabe national team was even trailing 0:1 at half-time.
Les Étalons” only managed to score the equaliser after the second half. Nevertheless, the starting position before the match against Algeria remains unchanged: Burkina Faso must win to secure the group victory against Algeria and thus reach the next round of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
Does the Burkinabe defensive bulwark defy the Algerians?
In the first leg, Burkina Faso kept the Algerian attack at bay for the most part, conceding just one goal. Now, for the first time since November 2006, Burkina Faso are looking for an away win in Algeria to end their negative streak against the Desert Foxes. Most recently, they lost two away matches in a row against the Algerians.
Among other things, the form curve in this calendar year is encouraging. Burkina Faso have lost only three of their twelve international matches this year. Since the last defeat against Morocco in a test match in June 2021, the Burkina Faso team is unbeaten.
National coach Kamou Malo continues to be without players such as Bertrand Traoré and Lassina Traoré due to injury during this international break. Compared to the recent starting eleven, only minimal changes are expected for the Burkinabe side.
Predicted line-up of Burkina Faso:
Ouedraogo; Kabore, Yago, Dayo, Tapsoba; Dabo, Guira, Sangare, Bande, Bayala; Konate
Last matches played by Burkina Faso:
World Cup Qualifiers CAF – 2nd Round – Grp. A
11/12 2021 – Burkina Faso 1 – 1 Niger
10/11 2021 – Burkina Faso 2 – 0 Djibouti
10/08 2021 – Djibouti 0 – 4 Burkina Faso
09/07 2021 – Burkina Faso 1 – 1 Algeria
09/02 2021 – Niger 0 – 2 Burkina Faso
Algeria – Burkina Faso Direct comparison / H2H balance
This is the 21st time the two nations have met. So far, Algeria leads the head-to-head comparison against Burkina Faso with a record of 9-5-5. In the 20 international matches, the Algerian national team has scored a total of 32 goals against the Burkinabe. However, the desert foxes also conceded 17 goals.
Algeria recently celebrated two home victories in a row against Les Étalons. It is quite possible that the series will be extended in the upcoming home match. After all, Algeria’s ten home victories in a row have given them plenty of confidence ahead of their showdown with the Burkinabe side.
Algeria – Burkina Faso Tip
Algeria go into their final group game of the ongoing CAF Zone World Cup qualifying round in fine fettle. Even a minimal point against Burkina Faso is enough to secure the group win on their own merits. Because Burkina Faso failed to win their last match at home against Niger, it is obvious that Algeria will even score three times in the group final.
In the first leg, Algeria dropped two important points against Burkina Faso and even squandered a half-time lead. Apart from that, however, the Desert Foxes have been convincing and even have the best attack in the current qualifying round across all groups. It is quite possible that Burkina Faso will feel the full offensive power of the Algerians this time around.
We expect a clear victory for the Algerian hosts, who will thus secure the group win as expected. For Algeria vs Burkina Faso, our betting odds are “HT/FT: 1/1”. We use a total of seven out of ten possible units for this.
