Algeria Aims to Top Group in Arab Cup, Potentially Avoiding Morocco Clash

It is a decisive match for the two Algerian and Egyptian selections who covet the trophy. It is even more so for Algeria. The team that wins the match will finish first in group D, while the losing team will face Morocco, who is set to finish at the top of group C ahead of Jordan or Saudi Arabia.

"It will be a difficult match, because in addition to the issue of first place, it will be a derby, between two nations that know each other well, and in my opinion, one of the main factors that could make the difference in this duel, is the ability to recover, quickly and well," said the coach of the A’ national team, Madjid Bouguerra, during a pre-match press conference.

A Moroccan journalist asked him if Algeria wants to beat Egypt to avoid Morocco in the quarter-finals, scheduled for December 10 and 11. "Morocco is having a good start to the competition, of course. We, we take all the matches, one by one and as they come. We came to play high-level matches," the Algerian technician replied.