Algeria became the second qualifier for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations football finals scheduled in Ivory Coast early next year, after it renewed its victory over hosts Niger 1-<> on Monday at Hamadi Aqrabi Stadium in Rades, Tunis, in the fourth round of Group F competitions.
Qatar's Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah scored the only goal of the match in the sixth minute with a left-footed shot from inside the area following a pass from Manchester City captain Riyad Mahrez.
A magical touch from Riyadh and Baghdad ends it in the window 🇩🇿 #تصفيات_كأس_أمم_أفريقيا pic.twitter.com/8sDtyiq0bc
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 27, 2023
Algeria, champions in 1990 and 2019, beat Niger 2-1 on Thursday in the third round.
It is the fourth consecutive victory for Algeria, which strengthened its position in the lead with 12 points compared to two points for the third Niger, two points behind the second Tanzania, which meets the last Uganda (one point) on Tuesday.
🌙😍 In a beautiful shot. Algeria-Niger match suspended to give players a chance to break the fast#Africa_Cup_of_Nations_qualifiers | #النيجر | #Algeria#AFCON2023Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/jD24YeFwGV
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 27, 2023
Algeria followed neighbours Morocco, who were the first to qualify without playing, taking advantage of a 11-2 draw between their direct pursuers in Group 2, South Africa and hosts Liberia on Friday.
Morocco qualified to secure one of the first and second places in the three-team group after Zimbabwe were excluded by FIFA due to government interference in the affairs of the local federation.
Ivory Coast, who are in Group H, qualified directly as hosts.
🧐 A strange offside case counted against Algeria against Niger in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers!
What do you think? ✍️🗨️ #AfricaCup_of_Nations_Qualifiers | #النيجر | #Algeria#AFCON2023Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/s18idyr5LB
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) March 27, 2023
Nigeria regains balance
Nigeria regained their balance and top spot in Group A when they beat hosts Guinea-Bissau 1-<> in Bissau.
Nigeria owe their victory to French Nantes striker Moses Simon, who scored the only goal in the 30th minute from the penalty spot.
Nigeria reversed the debt to Guinea-Bissau, who blew up a surprise of high calibre on Friday by beating the Super Eagles by the same score in Abuja.
Nigeria raised their tally to 9 points, two ahead of Guinea-Bissau and four points ahead of Sierra Leone, who beat Sao Tome and Principe 4-2 on Sunday.
In Group E, Angola missed a chance to rehabilitate against visitors Ghana and fell to a 1-1 draw.
Angola advanced with a goal from the penalty spot scored by English Reading striker Lucas Joao in the 51st minute, but Serbian Red Star Belgrade striker Osman Bockarie equalized in the 72nd minute.
Ghana strengthened its position at the top of the group with 8 points to 5 points for Angola, which fell to third place, two points behind its former partner Central African Republic, which renewed its victory over its guest Madagascar when it beat it with two clean goals scored by Luis Mafuta in the 40th and 82nd minutes.
The Central African Republic beat Madagascar in the last home with a clean treble on Thursday in the third round.
In Group G, Congo revived their hopes of qualifying when they beat hosts South Sudan with a goal from Gabriel Charpentier in the final minute.
Congo avenged its loss to South Sudan 1-2 on Thursday in the third round, and achieved its second victory in the qualifiers to climb to second place with 6 points, 3 points behind leaders Mali, which is a guest of Gambia on Tuesday.
Sudan will later play Gabon in Group Nine, and Ethiopia with Guinea in Group D.