Group: A (Second Round)
Match: Cameroon vs Algeria
Venue: Accra Stadium
Referee: Fatou THIOUNE (Senegal)
Kickoff: 18:30 GMT
Algeria play Cameroon in their second group of the tournament in what could be a make or break tie for the Algerians after they lost their 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations opener.
Les Verts Dames were part players in their opening game against Ghana and will be hoping to put up a better performance when they take on the Lionesses. The Algerians barely threatened the goal in their first game of the tournament as the hosts were too strong for them.
Cameroon, on the other hand, survived an early scare as they were able to come from a goal down to seal victory on the opening day. The Lionesses conceded early in the second half of their opener but showed great strength and character to overturn the deficit. Two quick fire goals from Claudine Tcheno and Ajara Njoya helped Cameroon to go top of the group after the opening set of games.
Both sides are familiar foes as they have met 3 times at the AWCON. The Lionesses are unbeaten against Les Verts Dames having won all 3 of the previous meetings scoring 7 goals in the process. Algeria has won just 1 of their previous 4 AWCON second round group games. The last time Les Verts Dames won a second round group was in 2004 when they beat Mali by 3-0
Cameroon seem to be second round group game specialists from the stats corner. The Lionesses have won all their last 5 second round group games at the AWCON. The last time Cameroon lost a second round group game at the AWCON was 12 years ago when they lost to Ghana by 2-1.
The Lionesses need a victory to seal qualification into the last four. Les Verts Dames who are bidding to book a maiden World Cup need anything but victory to keep their hopes alive.
TEAM NEWS:
Algeria Coach Radia Fertoul will be expected to make some changes into her side for their second game.
The Algerians failed to provide any test for Patricia Mantey in the opener and Fertoul will look to tweak things a little in hope that her side will make more attempts at goal and provide some test for the Cameroon.
Imene Merrouche who came on in the first half of the opener made a good case for herself with some and will pushing for a starting spot in the game against Cameroon.
Cameroon Coach Joseph Ndoko will be hoping for much of the same from his side following their victory over Mali.
Cameroon will be seeking to extend their winning run and seal a place in the last four before their last group game against hosts Ghana.
Ajara Njoya who scored the winner and enjoyed a brilliant game in the opener will be hoping to add to her tally when she comes up against Algeria on Tuesday afternoon.
MANAGERS’ THOUGHTS:
Algerian Coach Radia Fertoul has announced her side are handicapped going into the second game of the tournament. According to Fertoul, three key players are injured for the tie against the Lionesses.
She said “We have three important players who are injured which could handicap us in this game”
Joseph Ndoko of Cameroon made known of his desire to keep his side’s momentum going in order to avoid any surprises.
Cameroon come into the game on the back of some excellent display of character and strength in their attack and the Cameroon gaffer is hoping his side continue in the same tempo.
He said “We want to continue our momentum to protect ourselves from any surprises”
Ndoko is hoping his side can seal qualification into the last before they play the hosts Ghana in their final group game on Friday.
