JOHANNESBURG: Islam Slimani scored four goals as African champions Algeria equalled the widest winning margin for an African World Cup qualifier by crushing minnows Djibouti 8-0 in Blida on Thursday to make a winning start to their bid to reach next year’s finals in Qatar and extend their unbeaten run to 28 games.
Burkina Faso and Benin both won away while Morocco, who were one of the five African countries at the last finals in Russia, posted a 2-0 home triumph over Sudan on Thursday. There was also a draw away for Uganda at neighbours Kenya and for Congo against Namibia while Tanzania surprised by holding the Democratic Republic of Congo in Lubumbashi.
The four goals for Slimani took his total for his country to 36 as he equalled Abdelhafid Tasfaouts record for Algeria, who have played in four previous World Cup tournaments.
The Lyon forward scored the first goal in the fifth minute. Djibouti had defender Batio Mohamed Youssouf sent off in the 23rd minute, leading to the Algerian onslaught.
Slimani made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 25th, Ramy Bensebaini scored a minute later and it was 4-0 at halftime after a second Algeria penalty, this time converted by Baghdad Bounedjah.
Slimani netted his third and fourth in the opening eight minutes of the second half and Riyad Mahrez and Dutch-born debutant Ramiz Zerrouki also scored for the 2019 African Cup of Nations winners.
Algeria share Group ‘A’ of the African qualifiers with Burkina Faso, who scored twice within three minutes through Lassina Traore and Mohamed Konate to defeat Niger 2-0 in Moroccan city Marrakesh.
Niger had to play the home fixture at a neutral venue because they are among eight countries, including Burkina Faso, whose stadiums were declared unfit to host World Cup fixtures.
Group ‘I’ favourites Morocco were ahead after 10 minutes in Rabat through defender Nayef Agued with Ilias Chair adding a second in the 53rd minute.
Collecting maximum points took the Moroccans to the top of the table, two points ahead of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, who drew on Wednesday.
Striker Steve Mounie scored the winner for Benin away in Madagascar in Group ‘J’, where DR Congo were the fancied team but made a disappointing start under new coach Hector Cuper at home to Tanzania.
Veteran striker Dieumerci Mbokani scrambled home a cross to give Congo the lead at home against Tanzania on his return to the team. Simon Msuva let fly with a shot from way out that went in off the crossbar to earn Tanzania a 1-1 draw.
Charles Hambira scored for both sides as Namibia and Congo Brazzaville drew 1-1 in Group H, which two-time World Cup qualifiers Senegal lead after defeating Togo on Wednesday.
The centre-back headed in a Deon Hotto free-kick during the opening half in Johannesburg, but had the misfortune of seeing a rebound off the post strike him and trickle into the Namibian net after half-time.
A much anticipated east African showdown in Group ‘E’ between Kenya and Uganda failed to meet expectations and ended in a dour 0-0 deadlock, leaving Mali first after a win over Rwanda the previous day.
Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2021
