Chad's new coach, Jean-Paul Akono, believes his side are capable of causing an upset against Algeria on Friday.

Chad have never qualified for the finals, but after an unprecedented training camp in France ahead of Friday's match, Akono says his team can provide a shock.

"It will be difficult", he said. " We're playing the mighty Algeria, but we will do all we can to cause a surprise, make a name for ourselves, and why not qualify for the final phase of the African Nations Cup for the first time?"

Government assistance has meant the Chad team have enjoyed proper preparation for their trip to Annaba.

"Anything can happen. What we will try to do is to maximise our assets so that on the evening of the 11th of October, the Chadian people can be happy", Akono declared.

Caretaker coach

Former Chad Hero Japhet Ndoram also has high hopes, but has warned against too much optimism.

"You have to be realistic because the Algeria team are used to high-class competition and have retained practically all the members of the team which competed in Mali", he said.

Akono's squad comprises eleven foreign-based players from France, Italy and Cameroon.

Algeria's caretaker coach Hamid Zouba has recalled Olympique Marseille midfielder Djamel Belmadi.

Belmadi missed the African Nations Cup finals in Mali this year due to injury and also missed the Desert Warriors away win in Namibia in August.