Preview: Cameroon vs. Algeria - prediction, team news, lineups

The Limbe Stadium plays host to a heavyweight meeting between Cameroon and Algeria as the sides battle it out over two legs for a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Cameroon are seeking to reach the World Cup finals for the eighth time in their history, while Algeria go in search of their fifth appearance at this level.

Match preview

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Algeria ended their Group A qualifying campaign unbeaten, picking up four wins and two draws to finish as group winners ahead of Burkina Faso.

However, The Desert Warriors could only muster a shambolic defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title, as they crashed out in the group stages.

Djamel Belmadi's men were a shadow of themselves in Cameroon and finished with just a single point from their three outings against Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea.

They will be looking to put a disappointing continental display behind them and book a place in November's global event having missed out on the last edition back in 2018.

Standing in their way is an opposing side who are unbeaten in each of the seven previous meetings between the teams, although it is worth noting that only two have come in the last six years.

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Cameroon saw off the threat of Ivory Coast in their final Group D fixture, which saw them emerge as group winners with a tally of 15 points from a possible 18.

Rigobert Song's men finished as second runners-up in the AFCON but would have been disappointed not to have gone all the way on their own turf.

No team in the entire continent has been to more World Cup finals than the Indomitable Lions, whose streak of four consecutive appearances is also unmatched.

Like their visitors, Friday's hosts also did not participate in Russia four years ago and will be keen to confirm their place in Qatar this time around.

Team News

Rigobert Song will be looking to get his tenure at the helm of affairs off to a winning start after taking over from Toni Conceicao last month.

Vincent Aboubakar scooped the AFCON Golden Boot award with eight goals in seven games, and the forward is certainly one to look out for.

Swansea City's Olivier Ntcham has received his maiden call-up to the Cameroon national team despite representing France at youth level.

Thirty-five-year-old Rais M'Bolhi is closing in on 100 appearances for Algeria as he seeks to join Lakhdar Belloumi as the only men to have reached the milestone.

Riyad Mahrez was largely underwhelming back in January, and his nation will need him back to his best if they are to emerge victorious in this one.

Cameroon possible starting lineup:
Onana; Moukoudi, Fai, Mbaizo, Castelletto; Anguissa, Gouet, Hongla, Ngamaleu; Aboubakar, Toko Ekambi

Algeria possible starting lineup:
M'Bolhi; Mandi, Bensebaini, Atal, Benayada; Bennacer, Zerrouki, Feghouli; Belaili, Slimani, Mahrez

We say: Cameroon 2-1 Algeria

With the teams closely matched in terms of squad quality, we expect an entertaining and end-to-end affair with goals at both ends. That said, we are also backing the home side to narrowly edge out their visitors come the end of the 90 minutes.

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