Algeria qualifies for the African Cup by defeating Niger

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — An early goal from striker Bagdad Bounedjah was enough for Algeria to beat Niger 1-0 in Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and confirmed their place in next year’s tournament in Ivory Coast.

Algeria is the second team to qualify after Morocco, which reached the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Bounedjah scored after six minutes of play with an assist from Riyad Mahrez. Algeria withstood the match held in Tunisia and achieved four victories in the same number of qualifying duels.

The battle will now take place between Tanzania, Niger and Uganda for the other card in Group F alongside Algeria.

Morocco advanced last week without playing after South Africa and Liberia drew 2-2 on Friday. With this result, Morocco occupied the first place among the first two places that got their ticket in Group K. The group includes only three teams, not four, after excluding Zimbabwe from the tie.

Morocco celebrated its 2-1 victory over Brazil in a friendly match on Saturday.

Last year, Morocco made World Cup history when it became the first African country to reach the semi-finals and is considered one of the favorites to win the African Cup title. The nation is enjoying a golden era after hosting the FIFA Club World Cup in February, and announcing earlier this month that it would bid to host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

Defending African Cup champions Senegal are top of their group and could reach the tournament again after striker Sadio Mane returned to action with his country’s national team last week. Senegal can qualify by beating Mozambique.

Elsewhere, Nigeria got revenge by beating Guinea-Bissau 1-0 after a shock defeat at home on Friday. Angola and Ghana tied 1-1 and Ghana leads Group E, one point ahead of the Central African Republic and three points over Angola after two rounds.