From our special correspondent in Douala,

This was supposed to be a gala match for first place, a starlit stage for the two heavyweights of Group E who were supposed to walk over the minnows, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea, before contesting the "showdown". And then crash! An earthquake for Algeria, beaten (0-1) on the second day by Equatorial Guinea after being held to a draw from the start by Sierra Leone (0-0). "That's what makes football beautiful. That's what makes this competition magical," says Ivorian coach Patrice Beaumelle.

The Algerian structure is cracked, but still standing, carried by the status of African champions and a series of 35 matches without defeat, admittedly brutally interrupted by Nzalang. But it all hangs by a thread on which the Fennecs will perform against Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday, January 20, 2022 from 4 p.m. UTC.

"If you don't win, you go home"

Djamel Belmadi, Algeria's coach, minces no words in describing his team's situation. "The facts are clear, unlike the first two matches, we're in a real emergency situation. If you don't win, you go home."

Who would have thought? Algeria, bottom of their group with one point in two matches and above all zero goals scored. But the African champions haven't lost all their shine to the point of arriving weaponless and ready to be trampled by the Elephants leading the group. The Fennecs did almost everything right in their first two matches. Everything except... score. What a waste of chances and opportunities, missed, squandered against Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea! Bad luck? Clumsiness? Both probably, but failing to convert their multiple opportunities plants doubt in the mind of a team that hadn't lost since October 16, 2018.

►Also read: Côte d'Ivoire-Algeria, looking back at four memorable clashes since 1968

"Yes, we have a bit more pressure, given our situation," acknowledges the captain and star of the team, Riyad Mahrez. "But we live with pressure. I don't think for a second about losing this match. We're going to give everything for ourselves, our country and our families."

On the other side, Côte d'Ivoire arrives in a favorable position... With 4 points, they are assured of qualifying for the Round of 16 and don't have the pressure on their side. "The approaches are obviously different," acknowledges the Elephants' coach. "We can approach this match with less negative pressure."

Captain Max-Alain Gradel, meanwhile, concludes with an offensive speech: "There will be no worse scenario. We're going to play the match we need to. We're going to qualify," he insists.