Amoura's Double Secures Algeria's 2026 World Cup Qualification
Mohamed Amoura found the net on two occasions as Algeria secured a 3-0 victory over Somalia on Thursday, sealing their place as Africa's fourth team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup following Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
The Wolfsburg forward converted a Riyad Mahrez cross with a precise volley in the sixth minute before the ex-Manchester City playmaker powered a rebound into the goal around the halfway point of the first period.
Mahrez provided another assist at the 57-minute mark, assisting Amoura in extending the advantage to a three-goal cushion. Coach Vladimir Petkovic, confident that qualification was secure, subsequently replaced both goal scorers.
The result was anticipated in the western port city of Oran, given that the Desert Foxes hold a ranking 163 positions higher than the Ocean Stars globally.
Algeria now possess 22 points in Group G with one fixture left, holding a four-point lead over second-placed Uganda. Mozambique occupy third position, with Guinea, Botswana and Somalia trailing behind.
Luca Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, was the focal point of pre-match discussions after switching his senior international allegiance to Algeria.
The goalkeeper, who plays for Spanish second-division side Granada, previously represented France at youth level but qualified to switch allegiances due to his Algerian paternal grandparents.
Bosnian manager Vladimir Petkovic included him on the bench, with Alexis Guendouz of reigning Algerian champions Mouloudia Alger starting in goal.
Algeria will compete in their fifth World Cup when they head to the 2026 finals co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Having been eliminated in the opening stage during the 1982, 1986 and 2010 competitions, they advanced to the second round in 2014 in Brazil, before being defeated 2-1 by Germany, who went on to win the tournament.
In another match, Ryan Ogam netted in the 73rd minute to secure a 1-0 victory for Kenya against Burundi in a heated east African derby held in Bujumbura, where the hosts were reduced to ten players for all but six minutes of the game.
Red card
Forward Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana received a straight red card following a foul on Kenya's goalkeeper Brian Okoth, who had to leave the field injured and was substituted by Bryne Odhiambo.
This incident led to a tense first half. When Kenyan player Manzur Suleiman made a studs-up challenge, angry Burundian players encircled the referee, demanding the yellow card be upgraded to red.
Despite their man advantage, Kenya failed to create scoring opportunities until stoppage time in the first half, when Jonathan Nahimana produced a remarkable one-handed save from a long-distance effort.
However, the determined resistance of the Burundian Swallows eventually collapsed when Ogam scored, elevating the Kenyan Harambee Stars to third place, eight points adrift of group leaders and current African champions, the Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast and Gabon have led the six-team Group F, separated by a single point as they approach their second-last fixtures on Friday.
The Ivorians will travel to face the Seychelles in Mauritius, as their Indian Ocean rivals lack a stadium certified by FIFA.
Gabon face a more challenging away fixture against Gambia in Nairobi, with the Gambian side also missing an international-standard facility.
Ivory Coast will earn their fourth World Cup berth, and first since 2014, by winning their match while Gabon suffer a defeat.
Nine qualification matches are set for Friday, including three in Group C, where Benin, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda and Lesotho all remain mathematically capable of topping the standings.
Benin sit above South Africa on goal difference, with both sides holding a three-point lead over Nigeria and Rwanda. Lesotho trail the leaders by five points.
Lesotho benefited when FIFA overturned a 2-0 defeat against South Africa from last March into a 3-0 win, following South Africa's use of an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena.