Home » AFCON 2023 preps: Former winners line up exciting warm ups

AFCON 2023 preps: Former winners line up exciting warm ups

by Lesley Ngwa
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Former Africa Cup of Nations winners – Egypt, Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria will roll out a team to test their might without pressure during their exciting friendly matches this Thursday, October 11.

Record champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt are up against the Chipolopolos of Zambia in the all-champions clash scheduled in Abu Dhabi.

Mohamed Salah faces a tough equation against a resilient Zambia national team that former Chelsea boss Avram has guided back into the AFCON picture for the first time since their 2012 triumph in Gabon.

The game at the Hazza Bin Sayed stadium will be the 23rd clash of both countries and a major attraction as besides Salah other stars like Leicester city’s Patson Daka will be in town for the Chipolopolos.

Egypt’s rich return of 11 wins and six defeats in the previous 21 matches for both countries and a 27-year unbeaten run against Zambia will be their source of inspiration, though the Zambians hope to find their grove and give hard times to coach Rui Vitória’s seven-time AFCON winners.

The game will kick-off at 4PM and will provide an opportunity for players that didn’t enjoy game time during the just-ended AFCON qualifier to have a run-out.

Russia Vs Cameroon

Cameroon will be become the first African Nation to play an international friendly against Russia since the start of the Russia -Ukraine war when they clash this afternoon in Moscow.

The fourth-ever meeting between the Indomitable Lions and the Sbornaya will happen this Thursday, at the Dinamo Lev Yashin Stadium in Moscow.

The 5PM kick-off will be an opportunity for Cameroon to build on the 3-0 win against Burundi in their last AFCON qualifier game last month.

Russia, 2018 FIFA World Cup host are rebuilding in anticipation that their FIFA ban be uplifted, thus explaining their choice of the five-time AFCON champions.

25000 fans are expected to attend the game to be officiated by Khaled Saleh of Saudi Arabia and his team of officials.

Rigobert Song’s team is expected to leave Moscow immediately after the game as they will face Senegal in another international friendly on October 16 in RC Lens.

Algeria Vs Cape Verde

Algeria, 2019 AFCON winners will up their preparations for the next tournament with the clash against the tough Cape Verde side this afternoon in Constantine.

The meeting of the AFCON-bound nations at the Chahid Hamlaoui Stadium will certainly be an attraction for the city with a population of half million.

The hosts are coming off a 1-0 win over African champions Senegal in a friendly last month. Faris Chaiby’s 64th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, suffered a harrowing 3-2 defeat at Togo in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September. They took a two-goal lead in the first half, thanks to Kevin and Benchimol strikes before Ahoueke Denkey halved the deficit from the spot in the 40th minute.

Denkey equalised in the 77th minute before Abdou Ouattara scored the winner two minutes after coming on to complete the comeback turnaround. Despite the defeat, the Blue Sharks booked their spot at the AFCON as group runners-up.

In head to head terms, Algeria lead 2-1. Their most recent meeting in June 2018 saw Cape Verde register a 3-2 comeback friendly win. Algeria are on a nine-game unbeaten streak across competitions, winning four.

Both sides will use this friendly to prepare for their return to competitive action. Algeria have another friendly line up against Egypt before starting their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Somalia and Mozambique in November.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, face Comoros in another friendly next week before opening their World Cup qualifying campaign against Angola and Eswatini next month.

The game will kick-off at 8PM local time and will be broadcast on the national outlets.


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