Algeria maintained their 100 per cent winning record in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification Group F by defeating Niger 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki on Friday morning.
As a result, the Desert Foxes opened a seven-point lead at the top of the group standings with three matches left, while the Menas, who are winless in Group F, remained second on the table.
Two teams are scheduled to meet again at Niger’s temporary home ground, Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades, Tunisia on Monday as the Menas look to avenge the defeat to the Desert Foxes.
The Desert Foxes dominated the match from the first whistle, but coach Djamel Belmadi’s charges couldn’t create clear-cut chances as they gave away possession in the final third at times.
The Menas took a surprise lead against the run of play in the 38th minute when Boubacar Moumouni’s long ball sent Daniel Sosah through on goal and the Ghana-born striker scored to hand Niger a 1-0 lead going into the halftime break.
Niger were under siege after the restart as the North Africans searched for the equalising goal and they deservedly got in the 54th minute when Abdel Rahim Alhassane netted an own-goal to make it 1-1 while under pressure from Baghdad Bounedjah.
The hosts did not take their foot off the pedal after restoring the parity as Riyad Mahrez was denied at the near post by goalkeeper Mohamadou Djibo in the 77th minute before the Algeria captain hit the crossbar with a header in the 79th minute.
However, Mahrez was not to be denied in the 89th minute as the Manchester City winger turned the ball home from close range to seal Algeria’s 2-1 victory over Niger with substitute Badredine Bouanani providing the assist.
