Algeria vs Sierra Leone LIVE: Stream, TV channel, team news as Mahrez and co. face AFCON 2022 opener – latest updates

ALGERIA kick off their AFCON 2022 campaign this afternoon in a cracking clash with Sierra Leone in Douala.

Riyad Mahrez's side are the defending champions, having won their second AFCON title back in 2019, and they're favourites to do it all again this time around.

But Sierra Leone will be looking to put an early halt to their title charge later this afternoon.

  • Start time: 1pm GMT
  • TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
  • Algeria XI: To follow
  • Sierra Leone XI: To follow

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    Caulker on swapping England for Sierra Leone

    Steven Caulker says representing Sierra Leone could mean even more to him than pulling on the Three Lions jersey.

    Recalling a trip he made to fund the building of a school in the country, he said: "I'm not someone who cries but that always gets to me.

    "She sang a song for me and whenever I watch that video it gives me the same feeling, it's overwhelming.

    "Just as it was when I was there, taking selfies with children who'd never seen their own reflections because there are no mirrors or cameras, it's such a remote village.

    "You could see pure joy and excitement in their faces.

    "I had a very small taste of that with England, but when I walk out to represent Sierra Leone I will be thinking of all that.

    "They always greet me with such love, it's always so emotional. These are the people I'll be thinking of and these are the people I'm playing for when I line up.

    "And all the people waiting outside the hotel before we left for Cameroon, running after our bus as we went off to play in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 25 years.

    "It's so much greater than football."

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    Head-to-head

    Algeria and Sierra Leone have played five times but their head to head record may not be particularly significant to today's fixture.

    Algeria have run out winners twice, while Sierra Leone have won once and there have been to draws.

    However, their last meeting was 26 years ago with the Algerians running out 2-0 winners in Bloemfontein, South Africa at AFCON 1996.

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    Algeria vs Sierra Leone

    Algeria begin their Africa Cup of Nations title defence against Sierra Leone.

    The dominant force in African football, the Algerians ran out 1-0 winners over Senegal to lift the trophy in 2019.

    And just last month they became champions of both Africa and the Arab world when they beat Tunisia 2-0 after extra time in the Fifa Arab Cup final in Qatar.

    Two Premier League players will be on display for the Desert Eagles in this tournament.

    Riyad Mahrez captains the Algerians while in-form West Ham star Said Benrahma will also feature.

    Opponents Sierra Leone meanwhile are entering their first AFCON since 1996.

    They edged out Benin to book their spot in Cameroon behind Nigeria in qualifying.

    Less is known from an English perspective about the Leone stars but they do have a former Three Lions international in their ranks.

    Former Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who now plies his trade in Turkey, is set to line up at centre-back.

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