Algeria Puts Eight Past Djibouti In Blida
Reigning African champions Algeria got off to a perfect start in their Group A qualifying campaign of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, defeating Djibouti 8-0 at the Moustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida, Algeria.
Islam Slimani’s four goals guided Les Fennecs to a clear win, while visitors Djibouti had to play with 10 men for almost 70 minutes after Youssof Batio was shown the red card in the 25th minute.
The Algerian festival of goals started as early as the fifth minute when a cross from captain Riyad Mahrez from the right side found Slimani, who headed the ball past Djibouti goalkeeper Mbounihamkuye Innocent.
Twenty minutes later, Batio touched the ball with his hand in the penalty area, and was given his marching orders. Sliming stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick and fired the ball into the net. Just a minute later, Ramy Bensebaini took advantage of Youcef Belaili’s cross to make it 3-0.
Djamel Belmadi’s players did not stop there and were still pushing, leaving no chance for their opponent. Bensebaini was fouled inside the penalty area five minutes from the break, and this time Baghdad Bounedjah scored from the spot as the first half ended 4-0 for the hosts.
After the break, Slimani added two more goals in quick succession (47 ’and 53’). Slimani’s four goals on the night made him go just one goal behind Algeria’s all-time top scorer Abdelhafid Tasfaout with 36 goals.
Moments later, skipper Mahrez added his name to the scorers’ list on the night after the hour mark.
Despite being 7-0 up, the Algerians continued to press, and a couple of minutes later Ramiz Zerrouki scored his first international goal to complete the 8-0 victory for the Algerians.
The emphatic home win stretched Algeria’s unbeaten run to 28 matches with their last defeat dating back to October 2018 when they lost to Benin in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Lyon talisman Slimani was in red-hot form in front of home fans.
Next up for the African champions is an away fixture against Burkina Faso in Marrakech on September 7, while Djibouti have a date with Niger, a day before.
CAF World Cup qualification results
Niger 0-2 Burkina Faso
Algeria 8-0 Djibouti
Kenya 0-0 Uganda
Namibia 1-1 Congo
Morocco 2-0 Sudan
DR Congo 1-1 Tanzania
Madagascar 0-1 Benin
Chidi Nwoke/CAF.
