Algeria qualify for 2026 World Cup, first time since 2014

Mohamed Amoura scored doubly arsenic Algeria bushed Somalia 3-0 connected Thursday to go the 4th qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup from Africa aft Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

The Wolfsburg striker volleyed a Riyad Mahrez transverse into the nett connected six minutes, past the erstwhile Manchester City winger slammed a escaped shot into the nett midway done the opening half.

Mahrez turned creator again connected 57 minutes, mounting up Amoura to agelong the pb to 3 goals. Coach Vladimir Petkovic, convinced that qualification was assured, past substituted some scorers.

It was a predictable result successful occidental larboard metropolis Oran arsenic the Desert Foxes are 163 places supra the Ocean Stars successful the satellite rankings.

Algeria person 22 points successful Group G with 1 circular remaining, 4 much than second-placed Uganda. Mozambique prevarication third, followed by Guinea, Botswana and Somalia.

Luca Zidane, a lad of French shot fable Zinedine Zidane, had dominated the pre-match build-up having changed his elder planetary allegiance to Algeria.

A goalkeeper with Spanish second-tier nine Granada, Luca Zidane represented France astatine younker levels, but was capable to marque the power due to the fact that his paternal grandparents were Algerian.

He was named among the substitutes by Bosnian manager Vladimir Petkovic with goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz from reigning Algerian champions Mouloudia Alger successful the starting line-up.

Algeria volition beryllium making a 5th World Cup quality erstwhile they question to the 2026 tournament, which the United States, Canada and Mexico are co-hosting.

After archetypal circular exits successful the 1982, 1986 and 2010 tournaments, they reached the 2nd circular astatine the 2014 World Cup successful Brazil, losing 2-1 to eventual champions Germany.

Elsewhere, Ryan Ogam scored aft 73 minutes to springiness Kenya a 1-0 triumph implicit Burundi successful a fiery eastbound African derby successful Bujumbura, wherever the location broadside had to play with 10 men for each but six minutes.

– Red paper –

Forward Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana was shown a consecutive reddish paper aft fouling Kenya goalkeeper Brian Okoth, whose wounded forced him disconnected to beryllium replaced by Bryne Odhiambo.

The incidental acceptable the country for a tense archetypal half. When Kenyan Manzur Suleiman committed a studs-up foul, furious Burundians surrounded the referee, appealing for the yellowish paper to beryllium changed to red.

Despite their numerical advantage, Kenya did not endanger to people until first-half added clip erstwhile Jonathan Nahimana made a superb one-hand prevention from a long-range shot.

But the brave absorption of the Burundian Swallows yet broke erstwhile Ogam netted to assistance the Kenyan Harambee Stars to third, 8 points down leaders and reigning African champions the Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast and Gabon person dominated the six-nation Group F with 1 constituent dividing them going into their penultimate matches connected Friday.

The Ivorians are distant to the Seychelles successful Mauritius due to the fact that their Indian Ocean opponents bash not person a FIFA-approved stadium.

Gabon person what is apt to beryllium a overmuch tougher task distant successful Nairobi to Gambia, different state lacking an international-standard venue.

Ivory Coast volition unafraid a 4th World Cup appearance, and archetypal since 2014, if they triumph and Gabon lose.

There are 9 qualifiers scheduled for Friday, including 3 successful Group C, wherever leaders Benin, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda and Lesotho each person a mathematical accidental of finishing first.

Benin pb South Africa connected extremity difference, and some person 3 much points than Nigeria and Rwanda. Lesotho are 5 points down the pacesetters.

Lesotho benefitted from having a 2-0 nonaccomplishment to South Africa past March changed to a 3-0 triumph by FIFA due to the fact that their opponents fielded the ineligible Teboho Mokoena.

Vanguard News

The station Algeria suffice for 2026 World Cup, archetypal clip since 2014 appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.