bet365
BetMGM
William Hill
Betfred
BetUK
LiveScoreBet
10Bet
Virgin Bet
Can Algeria control the tempo, or can Sudan disrupt the rhythm in Morocco? Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Geo location and live streaming rules apply.
▾
West Ham's defense is historically poor, failing to keep a clean sheet in 19 straight games. Tottenham have scored in 9 straight meetings against them. However, Spurs concede 1.27 goals per game and struggle against counters, making a clean sheet for the hosts unlikely despite the expected win.
▾
West Ham concede an average of 2.04 goals per game, making two Spurs goals the baseline. Tottenham's vulnerability to individual errors and counter-attacks suggests West Ham will snatch one, but the visitors' weak finishing limits a larger comeback.
Readers’ Tip
Vote your pick — quick & anonymous
Terms & Conditions (tap to view)
Algeria vs Sudan Predictions and Best Bets
Algeria vs Sudan — BetMGM Market Snapshot
Key markets with implied probabilities and BetMGM pricing based on recent competitive data.
Algeria’s unbeaten run and superior goal metrics position them strongly against a Sudan side struggling for wins.
Low defensive concession rates suggest a clean sheet win for the favorites is the most anticipated outcome.
- Algeria’s recent run sets a high baseline: seven wins and three draws in their last 10 fixtures, scoring 21 goals and conceding only four across that spell.
- Sudan’s cutting edge has been scarce in their 2025 WC Qualification Africa run: three goals in 10 matches, a 0.3 goals-per-game rate that raises the value of rare big chances.
- Possession and output hint at the likely pattern: Algeria average 56% possession with 2.1 goals per match, while Sudan average 54% possession but 0.3 goals per match.
Defensive Performance: Goals Conceded Per Match
A comparison of goals conceded across recent competitive fixtures highlights the defensive gap between the sides.
With only four goals allowed in ten games, they represent one of the toughest blocks in the competition.
Recent results against higher-ranked opposition have tested Sudan’s backline consistently.
Attacking Reliability: Goals Scored Per Match
Contrasting the offensive efficiency of both nations heading into this group stage opener.
An average of over two goals per game shows a team capable of converting sustained possession into leads.
Finding the net has been a major hurdle, with just three goals in ten qualification matches.
Algeria begin their group-stage campaign with a trip across North Africa to Morocco, taking on Sudan this week in what reads as a classic opener: one side arriving with a deep, recognisable set of attacking names, the other carrying a chip on its shoulder and a habit of staying competitive even when the wider narrative has them written off.
Sudan, coached by James Kwesi Appiah, come into the tournament ranked 118th in the world according to FIFA. The “Falcons of Jediane” have been tested in recent months too, competing for large parts of CAF qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and even setting the pace in Group B at one stage ahead of Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, before eventually finishing third.
Algeria arrive with the sort of profile that makes early matches dangerous for opponents: not just quality in the starting XI, but depth and variety in the squad. Vladimir Petkovic, previously in charge of Switzerland, takes his side into this one with a captain in Riyad Mahrez and attacking support from the likes of Houssem Aouar and Mohamed Amoura. It’s an opening that asks a simple question: can Sudan turn this into a scrap in the right areas, or does Algeria’s structure and firepower force the game onto their terms?
Team News and Likely Set-Ups
Petkovic is expected to set Algeria up in a 4-2-3- shape, with Mandrea in goal; Belghali, Mandi, Bensebaini and Ait-Nouri across the back; Maza and Bennacer as the double pivot; then Mahrez, Aouar and Hadj Moussa supporting Amoura.
Even without getting carried away, that line-up screams balance. A double pivot suggests Algeria want control of the centre early — security for their full-backs to advance, and a platform for Mahrez and Aouar to find pockets rather than starting every move from the touchline. Amoura as the reference point at the top gives them a forward who can turn possession into actual penalty-box situations rather than pretty patterns.
Sudan’s predicted XI is a 3-4-3: Abu Eshrein; Karshoum, Khamis, Ering; Barglan, Abdalla, Khedr, Mohamedein; A. Eisa, M. Eisa, Abdelrahman. The key line in Sudan’s team news is about pressure in the final third, with reliance on former Peterborough United striker Mo Eisa and former Grimsby Town winger Abo Eisa.
That shapes the whole feel of their set-up. A 3-4-3 can be a bold front-foot system, or it can be a defensive shell that still leaves enough bodies ahead of the ball to counter with purpose. The mention of reliance on the Eisas hints at a Sudan side that will measure success by how often those two can receive in decent areas — and how long they can keep Algeria turning.
Unavailable and questionable sections are left blank for both teams, so the clearest guide is the predicted structure. On paper it’s a fascinating contrast: Algeria’s back four and double pivot aiming to dominate zones, against Sudan’s back three and wing-backs trying to close space, then break into it.
How the Match Could Be Played
This game looks like it will be decided by where Sudan choose to draw their lines.
If Sudan sit in a deeper 5-4-1 out of possession — with wing-backs dropping alongside the back three and one of the front line tucking in — it invites Algeria’s full-backs to push and asks Mahrez, Aouar and Hadj Moussa to solve a crowded picture. The risk for Sudan is obvious: if you defend low, you have to be perfect with distances and timing. One late step to Mahrez, one free half-turn for Aouar, and suddenly the back line is defending diagonally, not straight.
If Sudan press higher, the match changes into something sharper and more transitional. Algeria’s double pivot of Maza and Bennacer becomes a key “gate” in build-up: can they receive under pressure and shift the ball quickly enough to expose the spaces behind Sudan’s wing-backs? In a 3-4-3, the wide areas can be both a weapon and a weakness — if your wing-backs jump, the channels behind them can become motorways for runners.
Algeria’s 4-2-3- shape also suggests a clear attacking map. Mahrez on one side gives you a natural magnet for the ball, someone who wants it to feet and wants defenders stepping out towards him. That can be the trap. If Sudan’s wing-back and outside centre-back both get drawn to the same zone, it opens space either for the full-back on the overlap or for Aouar to arrive into the gap. Meanwhile, Hadj Moussa on the other side can stretch the pitch and stop Sudan collapsing entirely onto Mahrez’s flank.
Sudan’s attacking story, based on the names highlighted, is about turning defence into purposeful forward actions for Mo Eisa and Abo Eisa. In a match where Algeria may dominate territory, Sudan don’t need a dozen attacks; they need the right kind of attacks. That means clean exits — the first pass out of pressure, the second pass into a runner, and then a decision that actually gets the ball into the final third rather than gifting it back.
A subtle but vital battle is how Sudan’s midfield four deal with Algeria’s “three behind the striker”. In a back-five system, defenders can end up focused on the striker and the space either side of him, leaving the zone at the top of the box exposed. If Algeria can repeatedly get Aouar receiving between Sudan’s midfield and defence, Sudan’s back line will start taking uncomfortable steps forward — and that’s when gaps appear behind.
At the other end, Sudan’s best route to disrupting Algeria may be to keep the game messy in the right moments: win second balls, force Algeria to defend facing their own goal, and make sure their front three are positioned to turn loose clearances into pressure. It doesn’t have to be pretty. It just has to be consistent.
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
bet365
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Betfred
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Show Terms & Conditions
10bet
100% Up To £50 On First Deposit
Show Terms & Conditions
The Numbers That Support the Story
Algeria’s recent record over their last 10 fixtures is listed as seven wins, three draws and no losses. What that suggests is not just resilience, but a baseline level that rarely collapses across a run of matches — the sort of platform that makes group-stage openers less about survival and more about imposing a plan.
There’s also a clear defensive edge in their numbers: in that same set of 10, Algeria have scored 21 goals and conceded just four. Conceding 0.4 per match over that spell speaks to control as much as it does defending — it implies opponents are not getting a steady stream of high-quality chances, and it matters here because Sudan’s attacking weight is described as leaning heavily on Mo Eisa and Abo Eisa. If Algeria are limiting openings, Sudan may have to maximise a small number of moments.
Algeria’s scoring rate in the same run sits at 2.1 goals per match. That isn’t just “they score a bit”; it points to an attack that can turn territory into goals often enough to break the early-match tension that so many tournament openers live on. Add the detail that Algeria average 56% possession, and you get a picture of a side that expects to have the ball and has been productive when they do.
Sudan’s recent 10-game record is listed as one win, three draws and six losses, and the goal figures in their 2025 WC Qualification Africa set underline how tough it’s been in the final third: three goals scored across 10 matches, which works out as 0.3 per match. That matters tactically because it increases the importance of how Sudan use their forward players — if your scoring rate is low, the quality of your chances has to be higher, and the delivery to Mo Eisa and Abo Eisa has to arrive in the right moments rather than when Algeria are already set.
Even the chance-creation indicators point to the same theme. Sudan average 6.25 shots per match and have an xG for of 0.82; Algeria average 8.2 shots per match with an xG for of 1.25. Neither figure promises anything on its own, but together they reinforce the likely pattern: Algeria spending more time in Sudan’s half, and Sudan needing their attacking moments to be sharp rather than frequent.
Key “Moments” to Watch
The first moment is how Sudan handle Algeria’s right side once Mahrez starts seeing the ball regularly. If Sudan’s wing-back steps out aggressively, the space behind him becomes a problem. If he stays deep, Mahrez has time. Either way, that flank will ask a question, and Sudan’s answer needs to be coordinated across the wing-back, the outside centre-back and the nearest midfielder.
The second moment is whether Algeria’s double pivot can control the tempo when Sudan have a good five-minute spell. Tournament matches often arrive in waves: a team absorbs pressure, then suddenly the opponent has their best spell of the half. If Maza and Bennacer can keep Algeria playing forward and prevent those spells from turning into repeated counterattacks, Algeria’s shape looks built to smother momentum.
For Sudan, the key moments are likely to revolve around transitions. When they win the ball, do they find Mo Eisa early enough for him to set an attack, or does Algeria’s rest-defence squeeze the life out of counters before they begin? And when Abo Eisa gets it, can he turn possession into territory, or is he immediately forced backwards?
There’s also an emotional moment in any opener: the first time a side has to defend their own box under sustained pressure. If Sudan survive that spell, the belief rises. If Algeria score early, the whole match becomes about whether Sudan can change the script.
What could go wrong with this read? A game that looks like “Algeria control, Sudan resist” can still pivot on a single mistake, a single deflection, or a single passage where structure breaks down. Fine margins are louder in a group-stage opener because teams haven’t yet settled into the rhythm of the tournament.
Best Bet for Algeria vs Sudan
[bt4y_article_veil]
Algeria to win and Under 3.5 goals
The matchup between Algeria and Sudan in this opening group fixture presents a clear contrast in current form and technical efficiency. Algeria enters the contest on the back of a highly disciplined run, having remained unbeaten in their last 10 fixtures with seven wins and three draws. This consistency is anchored by a remarkably sturdy defense that has conceded just four goals across those 10 matches, averaging a mere 0.4 goals against per game. While they possess significant firepower in the form of Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Amoura, their path to victory often relies on control and defensive solidity rather than high-scoring shootouts.
Sudan, meanwhile, has struggled to find the back of the net consistently, managing just three goals in their 10 qualification matches for the 2026 World Cup. Their scoring rate of 0.3 goals per game suggests they will find it difficult to breach an Algerian backline that has proven nearly impenetrable in recent months. However, Sudan has shown a capacity to stay competitive in low-scoring affairs, as evidenced by their ability to keep matches tight despite a record of six losses in their last 10 outings. Their tactical setup, likely involving a deep defensive block, is designed to frustrate opponents and limit clear-cut chances.
With Algeria averaging 2.1 goals per match and Sudan struggling to contribute to the scoreline, the most logical outcome is a controlled win for the favorites. Algeria’s average of 56% possession and 8.2 shots per match points to a team that dictates the tempo and waits for the right opening rather than forcing a frantic pace. Given Sudan’s defensive priorities and Algeria’s historical clinical nature in competitive openers, a result that sees Algeria take the points without the total goal count spiraling out of control is strongly supported by the statistical trends of both nations.
What could go wrong
A primary risk to this selection is Sudan’s potential for a complete defensive collapse if Algeria scores an early goal, which could force the underdog to abandon their structure and open the game up. Conversely, if Sudan manages to replicate the defensive resilience they showed in their recent 0-0 draw against Algeria in the Arab Cup, they could frustrate the favorites into a scoreless stalemate, negating the win portion of the bet.
Correct score lean: 2-0
A 2-0 victory for Algeria aligns with their defensive average of 0.4 goals conceded and their offensive output of 2.1 goals per game. Sudan’s low xG of 0.82 and their recent trend of failing to score in the majority of their matches make an Algeria clean sheet highly probable. Given Algeria’s patient build-up and Sudan’s likely deep defensive shell, a two-goal margin reflects a game where the favorites find the breakthrough and eventually double their lead as the underdogs tire or commit more men forward in the closing stages.
Selected Bookmakers Offers
| |
New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. | |
| |
Open Account Offer - New Customers only. Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets when you join bet365. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value settle. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs , time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required. #Ad. 18+ Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. | |
| |
New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org. | |
 | |
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&Cs.+ deposit exclusions apply #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New bettors. Select bonus at signup or use code SPORT. Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet = bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits apply. T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
New customers only, 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at 2.0+ to qualify for £25 in free bets and 10 Free Spins. Free Bets and Spins valid 7 days. £0.10 Free Spins. T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
| |
New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals), placed & settled at 1.5 min odds in 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days, use on sportsbook only (ex. virtuals), stakes not returned. T&Cs Apply and deposit exclusions apply. Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
 | |
18+ New customers only. Opt in, and bet £10 on football markets (odds 2.00+). No cash out. Get 6x£5 football free bets at specified odds for set markets, which expire after 7 days. Offer valid from 12:00 UK Time on 25/08/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply | gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org | |
