Algeria's ailing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika urged the country's team to repeat a landmark 1982 triumph over Germany when they clash Monday.
Algeria beat West Germany 2-1 32 years ago but the latest match is also tinged with revenge for the Germans later arranging to beat Austria 1-0 so the European neighbours could advance at the expense of the North Africans.
"I cannot imagine that you are unable to repeat the feat of your predecessors," Bouteflika said in a statement.
Algeria's progress to the last 16 for the first time "is just a first step (which) calls for other lines to be crossed to snatch the final victory and raise the colours of your country in the Brazilian sky," Bouteflika said.