The match for the third place is always very difficult to play for both teams involved as they were hoping to fight for the title and enter the game after losing an important match. Nigeria are definitely in a better position here as Algeria will miss three players through suspension but that doesn’t have to mean anything.
Nigeria got what they deserved
Nigeria somehow managed to reach the semi-finals despite under-par performances in the group stage and in the quarter-final game against Zambia but once the Super Eagles finally produced a decent performance they were eliminated from the competition. We are yet to see how the players will react to the Ghana defeat but one thing is sure, they will struggle against Algeria. The atmosphere in the team is still very poor, while the Super Eagles have major problems in the scoring department.
Obafemi Martins played full 90 minutes against Ghana even though he was not fully fit and he is unlikely to start this match as that would be too much for him. Onyekachi Apam should return to the side after serving a suspension against Ghana, while we expect Shaibu Amodu to make numerous changes to the starting line-up, with Yobo, Taiwo, Kanu and Olofinjana all expected to start.
Algeria suffered a humiliating defeat from the Pharaohs
Algeria did better than anyone expected at Africa Cup of Nations and winning the third place play-off would be a big success for the Fennecs. Rabah Saadane’s side were beaten 4:0 in the semi-final game by Egypt but they ended the game with just eight players on the pitch and that prevented them from recording a better result. Unlike their opponents who will be in poor spirits, the Algerians should be happy to have gone this far and they will be very motivated to win this tie. The Fennecs are maybe inferior to Nigeria on paper but they are playing like a team and their motivation should help them win this game.
Keeper Fawzi Chaouchi, Nadir Belhadj and Rafik Haliche are all suspended after picking up red cards against Egypt and that will be a problem but Rabah Saadane has decent replacements and he will still be able to field a strong side against Nigeria. We don’t think the boss will make too many changes to the starting line-up, apart from the enforced ones, since he really wants to win this game.
Predection
Nigeria played just one good game in this competition and we don’t think they have it in them to beat Algeria after the disappointing defeat to Ghana. The Fennecs, on the other hand, will be very motivated to win this game and even without the absentees, we see Algeria as the favorites to finish in third place.
