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CAIRO (Reuters) – Algeria will have to upset the specifications when it wants to defeat Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals on Sunday, after failing to beat the Super Eagles for almost 30 years.
In the other match, Senegal, which aims to win the tournament for the first time, will meet a Tunisian team that seems to be gaining momentum at the right time.
Algeria beat Nigeria twice in the 1990 tournament – 5-1 in the group stage and 1-0 in the final – on the sole occasion of the victory.
Three-time champions, Nigeria has won seven draws and two draws since. Although in his last match – a 1-1 draw for the 2017 World Cup – the result was later canceled as Nigeria had suspended Abdullahi Shehu.
Algeria won a 3-0 win without interruption, although it was academic because Nigeria had already qualified for the World Cup.
"If we manage to succeed here, we will go into history," Nigeria striker Alex Iwobi told BBC. "I know that our childhood dream has always been to win as many competitions as possible."
Algeria is in its seventh semifinal Afcon, its first since 2010, and is one of the strongest teams, although some weak points were unveiled by Cote d 'Ivoire in the quarter-finals which ended in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. .
"We have a team of warriors and we must seize our chance to win this tournament," said Algerian captain Riyad Mahrez. "Before starting the tournament, our goal was to reach the semifinals, but now we want to win this Afcon title".
Senegal reached the semifinals for the first time in 13 years, although it had to work hard to win 1-0 victories over Uganda and Benin's underdogs in the round of 16.
Throughout the tournament, coach Aliou Cisse – who played in the team beaten by Cameroon in the 2002 final – has beaten against the idea that his team be favorite.
"I want to congratulate my players for the heroic match and deserved qualification for us," he said after their victory over Benin.
"Since 2006, Senegal has not reached the semifinals of the CAN, which proves that we are working to become the best."
Tunisia, meanwhile, drew three games in the group stage and beat Ghana on penalties in the round of 16 after another draw before beating Madagascar 3-0 in the quarter-finals. .
It's their seventh semifinal, although it's their first time since 2004, when they won the tournament for the one time.
"After three difficult games in the first round, we have gained ground in the round of 16. Our main goal now is to qualify for the semi-finals, 15 years since our last match," said midfielder Ferjani Sbadi .
(Edited by Sudipto Ganguly)
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