No one saw that coming.The defending AFCON champions Algeria, considered one of the top favourites to win it again, are suffering a lot and are on the verge of elimination.That maiden draw against Sierra Leone seemed like just a small obstacle on the eventual road to glory. AFCON 2021: Title holders Algeria held by stubborn Sierra LeoneBut that second round shocking loss to underdogs Equatorial Guinea had knocked them straight to the ropes. Riyad Mahrez and his Fennec Foxes are on the brink of an abyss.AFCON 2021: Champions disappoint again – Equatorial Guinea defeat Algeria to end their unbeaten streakMoreover, with just a single point in their pockets, they ought to win in the ultimate Group E fixture against – none other than – Ivory Coast on Thursday night (19.00).As you probably know, the Round of 16 will be comprised of the top two teams from each group and four best third-place sides.
However, Algeria are in a must-win situation to clinch that spot in the next stage. Another stalemate would see them finishing the group stage with only two points and sunk to an inevitable elimination.Even that win could be inadequate if some other results in other groups turn against them. In some not so surreal scenarios, we could have more than a few third-placed teams with four points. Then a goal margin will decide who gets promoted, and some giants like Ghana, Algeria or Tunisia could see themselves out of the tournament.THU: 19.00 (3.40) IVORY COAST (3.00) ALGERIA (2.50)Before that loss to Equatorial Guinea, Algeria had not lost a game since 2018 and was just two games short of matching Italy’s world record of a 37-match unbeaten streak.”Everyone was talking about our unbeaten run, but now we need to focus on something else, go out and secure qualification,” said Algeria manager Djamel Belmadi.##EDITORS_CHOICE##