Goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi and striker Hilal Soudani are both out of the Stade de Franceville clash, while Leicester forward Islam Slimani is a doubt.
The Desert Foxes need the likes of Leicester star Riyad Mahrez to secure a win after drawing their opening CAN fixture 2-2 against Zimbabwe, while Tunisia’s 2-0 defeat against Senegal means there the Eagles of Carthage have no room for error this time around.
The point means Algeria’s fate remains in their hands, but they will be eager to take all three against a Tunisia side who were beaten 2-0 by Senegal on match day one and will be out if they lose again.
Team News
Algeria – Mahrez will undoubtedly have Tunisia’s defence worried, but the impact of Slimani could be key. Place your bet on NaijaBet.com
The Leicester City striker set up his team-mate for the opening goal against Zimbabwe and his aerial threat will likely prove a problem for a defence who conceded their second goal against Senegal from a corner.
Tunisia – The defeat to Senegal ended Akaichi’s run of scoring in three consecutive AFCON matches, but he remains their biggest attacking threat.
The Al-Ittihad forward has managed five goals and four assists in 11 club games this season; Kasperczak will need him sharp if Tunisia are to keep their hopes of the knockouts alive.
Match Facts
The only previous Africa Cup of Nations encounter between Algeria and Tunisia saw the latter win 1-0 in the 2013 group stages.
Algeria have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 of their last 11 AFCON matches and have only claimed victories in two of their last 10 games in the competition (D2 L6).
Tunisia, however, have managed only one clean sheet across their last 13 AFCON matches and have recorded only one win in their most recent six attempts (L3 D3).
Riyad Mahrez has been directly involved in four of the last five goals recorded by Algeria at the AFCON (three scored and one assist).
Ahmed Akaichi has scored in three of his last four AFCON appearances for Tunisia; three of the last four goals recorded by Tunisia in the competition have been converted by Akaichi.
As at this post Algeria has 2.19 odd to win the match on NaijaBet while Tunisia has 3.57 odd to win the match also, while the odd to draw the match is 3.02.