Algeria vs DR Congo: composition, statistics and preview

Match preview Algeria – DR Congo

Algeria Boss Vladimir Petkovic says his team must “be careful” when they come face to face. DR Congo in the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations tomorrow.

Algeria enters the match as heavy favorites to secure a place in the quarter-finals after finishing the group stage as one of only two teams with a 100% record following victories against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.

But Petkovic, who led Switzerland to the quarters of Euro 2020, does not take DR Congo lightly.

He said this morning: “DR Congo has managed to achieve positive results, and they are used to facing opponents like this. We have to be careful, but we have to focus on ourselves.

“Of course they have a strong team collectively, they have special individuals and they play with connected lines. They don’t give up until 90 minutes, but there are areas we need to exploit.”

Algeria are among the favorites to go all the way in Morocco, but Petkovic is not getting ahead of himself, adding: “We are thinking about the next step, which is the match against Congo, and we are not thinking about anything else.”

Petkovic’s counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sebastian Desaber, was in an optimistic mood ahead of his side’s first clash against Algeria in seven years.

“I feel good before the match, we had enough rest to recover and we prepared well for the match against Algeria,” said Desaber, whose team took seven points from three group matches. “We are very focused on this match, and we will do everything to qualify for the quarter-finals.

“The Algerian team is the right one to measure the extent of our development and progress. Algeria is a good team, which had a good record in the group stage and is a team to return to the World Cup, but we have our weapons to win and we have our plans to achieve our goals.”

Team news for Algeria vs DR Congo

Algeria will likely be without left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri after he was dropped during the match against Equatorial Guinea. Jaouen Hadjam is permanently absent due to an ankle injury.

DR Congo will submit a late fitness test to Sunderland full-back Arthur Masuaku. Joris Kayembe will keep his place in the event of Masuaku’s exclusion.

Line-up planned for the Algeria vs DR Congo match

Algeria: Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini, Dorval; Boudaoui, Bennacer; Amoura, Mahrez, Hadj Moussa; Maza

DR Congo: Pasi-Nzau; Masuaku, tuazebe, slice, wan-bissaka; Moutoussy, Sadiki, Mukau; Elia, Bakambu, Bongola

How to watch Algeria vs DR Congo: TV and online streams

Kick-off on Tuesday will be at 4pm UK time. In the UK, live CAN 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channels. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.