Algeria, laborious against Niger (2-1), qualified for the next African Cup of Nations while Nigeria, surprised Friday at home by Guinea-Bissau (1-0) took its revenge by winning by the same score on Monday.
At the top of group F with 12 points, the Fennecs are guaranteed to finish among the first two in their group who will join the final phase in January and February next. They join Morocco, already qualified, and Côte d’Ivoire also qualified as host country.
Djamel Belmadi’s men, 2-1 winners in Algiers, still had great difficulty getting rid of the Menas of Niger, in a relocated match near Tunis. However, they had a perfect start by opening the score in the 6th minute of play by Baghdad Bounedjah, well served by Riyad Mahrez. But in the second period, the Nigeriens offered themselves the equalizer badly converted by Alhassane.
As for Nigeria, defeated to everyone’s surprise on Friday in Abuja, its reaction was expected for the return match. The Super Eagles won in Banjul thanks to a penalty converted by Moses Simon at the half hour mark.
Napoli’s prolific striker Victor Osimhen found the crossbar shortly after the hour mark. This success allows Jose Peseiro’s men to regain first place in Group A that their opponents had stolen from them with 9 points against 7.
