2022 World Cup: Algeria slaps Djibouti, Burkina Faso at the foot of the wall

Algerian Islam Slimani, top scorer in the history of the Fennecs.

AFP PHOTO / CARL DE SOUZA

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

3 min

Match without incident for the Algerian African champions, Friday, November 12, during the 5th day of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers (second round).

Opposed to Djibouti in Cairo, the Fennecs won easily (4-0).

Neutralized by Niger (1-1), Burkina Faso will have to beat Algeria on the final day to win him the qualification.

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Algeria's numbers are impressive, but Djamel Belmadi's men are not yet among the ten qualified for the final round of qualifying play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar.

The Algerians are more than ever leaders of group A and the most offensive team of these qualifiers after their success Friday in Djibouti (4-0).

But Burkina Faso is still in ambush.

And 39 for Slimani

In Cairo in Egypt, in the same international stadium where they were crowned African champions in 2019, the Fennecs had little to fear from a weak Djibouti team. On September 2, they began their campaign in this second round

by crushing these same Djiboutians 8-0

in Blida. Two months later, the bill is less salty, but the Algerian domination is still evident.

Moments after missing a penalty, Youcef Belaïli made up for it by opening the scoring, with a powerful hook-strike sequence in the area (29th).

It was then Saïd Benrahma who scored his first international goal, taking advantage of a loss of the defense (40th).

And captain Sofiane Feghouli put his people permanently in the shelter with a winning shot on which Innocent Hankuye, the goalkeeper of Djibouti, missed (42nd).

At the end of the match, Islam Slimani, who entered the game at the break, confirmed his status as the top scorer in Algerian history.

After a strike from Benrahma boxed by the goalkeeper, the Lyonnais scored his 39th goal in the selection with a lobed header (87th).

With 23 goals in five days, including 7 by Slimani alone, Algeria is the best attack in the qualifiers.

► To read also: World Cup 2022: calendar and results of qualifying Africa

Faso for a feat in Blida on November 16?

However, the Greens still have the breath of Faso in the neck.

The Burkinabè had followed the rhythm of the Fennecs during the first four days: three wins, one draw.

The balance was still broken Friday, because while Algeria marched on Djibouti, Niger thwarted the plans of coach Kamou Malo and his players (1-1).

This game played in Marakech, Morocco, was a story of penalty. The Nigeriens scored the first by Youssef Oumarou in the 34th. The Stallions responded after the break through Issoufou Dayo (55th). This sharing of points does not suit Faso, which now has no other alternative but to win its sixth and final match.

Algeria leads Group A with 13 points and only has Burkina Faso as a competitor in the race for first place, the only qualifier for the play-offs.

The Burkinabè occupy the second place with 11 points.

The match on Tuesday, November 16, in Blida, will be a

new "final" in these qualifiers

.

Algeria will qualify in the event of a win or a draw.

Burkina Faso will only qualify by beating the Fennecs.

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  • Sports

  • Soccer

  • World Cup 2022

  • Algeria

  • Burkina Faso

  • Djibouti

  • Niger