AFCON 2023 Group D Predictions, Preview: Riyad Mahrez Leads Algeria’s Reclamation Dream

• Algeria will be seeking to reclaim the Africa Cup of Nations title they won in 2019
• Djamel Belmadi's charges will need to navigate past a group that has Burkina Faso
• We take a look at the players to watch in each team and our predictions for the group stage action

Forget the mind games Djamel Belmadi started with on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations - Algeria are one of the favourites to win the whole thing.

On paper, Group D looks like an easy journey for the Desert Foxes, who will be looking to banish the ghosts of 2022, where they exited in the first round with only one point.

The 2019 champions will face the unpredictable Burkina Faso, Mauritania and the returning Angola.

Algeria

Belmadi's side have put the shambolic 2022 campaign and failure to qualify for the World Cup behind them and look to be the side that steamrolled every side in 2019.

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The major news in the squad announcement was the exclusion of Said Benrahma, but the team has received a significant boost with the likes of Houssem Aouar and Rayan Ait Nouri. Captain Riyad Mahrez might have left the much fancied Premier League, but can still drive an attack.

Burkina Faso

Despite their mixed runs in recent competitions, the Bukrinabes have always been the tournament's dark horses. They claimed silver in 2013, suffered group stage elimination in 2015, finished third in 2017, failed to qualify in 2019 before finishing fourth in 2022.

It is always an all-or-nothing type of campaign for the Stallions. Issa Kabore was among the standout young players in 2022. He returns with Premier League experience this time and will be expected to play a starring role at the back alongside the colossus that is Edmond Tapsoba.

Bertrand Traore has always been the go-to man for his national side and this time, he will be complemented by Bournemouth's Dango Outtarra.

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Mauritania

The big news for the Lions of Chinguetti will be the man at the helm of the side - Amir Abdou. Abdou, lest you have forgotten, was the man who masterminded the fairytale Comoros run to the round of 16 in their debut appearance in 2021.

Mauritania will be hoping for something similar, considering how dismally they have performed in their last two appearances at the continental stage.

Former Fulham man Aboubakar Kamara, now with UAE side Al Jazira, remains the most potent form of goal returns for Mauritania.

Angola

The Palancas Negras are back after missing out on the 2022 edition. As CAF notes, they have only managed four wins in 24 matches in the eight editions of the AFCON tournaments they have participated in.

Of these wins, none has been able to help them get past the group stage - a statistic they will be hoping to change in Ivory Coast.

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At only 21 years old, Zito Luvumbo spearheaded Cagliari's promotion to the Serie A this season. The going has been tough in the Italian top-flight, but the forward has nonetheless chipped in with three goals and two assists.

Ivory Coast will be ripe for him to make Pedro Goncalves' side sing.

Sports Brief prediction

Algeria to make it through as group winners. Burkina Faso to qualify as the runners up.

AFCON 2023 Group F preview

In Group F, Sports Brief predicts Morocco to win a group that includes former champions Zambia and DR Congo.

The Africa team of the year had a spectacular run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and will be hoping to replicate the same in the continent.