Algeria beat Somalia to book World Cup spot

Algeria secured qualification for the 2026 Fifa World Cup on home soil, beating Somalia 3-0 at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Bir El Djir, Algeria, on Thursday.

The Desert Foxes claimed another three points to take themselves out of Uganda’s reach in the Group G standings. With a four-point gap over second place heading into the last game, their spot at the top of the group is secure, regardless of what happens.

Algeria have been to four previous tournaments, with the last one being in 2014.

Somalia remained at the bottom of the group, still with only one point collected from the nation’s nine games.

Mohamed Amoura opened the scoring in the sixth minute, heading home Riyad Mahrez’s cross at the back post to hand the Desert Foxes an early lead.

Baghdad Bounedjah nearly added a second just four minutes later, but he sent his header wide of the posts.

In the 18th minute, Bounedjah’s cross from the left of the box was blocked, with the ball falling to Farès Chaïbi. Chaïbi could not convert his follow-up effort, hitting the upright.

Mahrez continued to produce on attack and bagged Algeria’s second goal in the 19th minute. Chaïbi’s cross from the byline flew over the players bunched near the goal, finding Mahrez in space. The Algerian captain fired the ball into the top left corner for his second goal contribution of the game.

The Desert Foxes kept the pressure on and nearly converted another headed chance in the 26th minute, but Ramy Bensebaini’s attempt was denied by goalkeeper Abdirahman Mohamud Jama.

Somalia produced their first concrete opportunity of the half in the 38th minute as the team’s corner fell to Handwalla Bwana at the edge of the area. He could not keep his shot down, and the ball sailed over the top of the crossbar.

Algeria struck again in the second half, netting a third goal in the 57th minute. Mahrez used his quick feet to fire a cross into the area and Amoura rose to meet it, securing his second headed goal of the game.

In the 62nd minute, Ibrahim Maza took a shot from the edge of the area, but could not find the target.

The Somalio defence was called into action again in the 77th minute as Faisal Othman put his body on the line to block an attempt at goal from inside the area.

Substitute Youcef Belaïli produced a brilliant solo run in the 89th minute, dancing past defenders and into the box, but he pulled his finish wide of the goal.

With their World Cup status secured, Algeria will have no pressure facing Uganda at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium in Algeria on Tuesday.

Somalia will look to end their campaign with pride and a victory when they return to the Miloud Hadefi Stadium to face Mozambique on Tuesday.

Somalia 0

Algeria (2) 3 (Amoura 7’, 57’, Mahrez 19’)

Somalia: A. Mohamud Jama, A. Abdullahi (F. Ahmed 75’), M. Omar, A. Gigli, F. Othman, A. Omar, A. Abdullahi, A. Musse (M. Nour 75’), A. Sharif (A. Iman 87’), H. Bwana (B. Habib 67’), M. Suleiman (Y. Sa'Ad 67’)

Algeria: A. Guendouz, R. Belghali, A. Mandi, R. Bensebaini, J. Hadjam, H. Boudaoui (Y. Benzia 85’), N. Bentaleb (Y. Belaïli 60’), F. Chaïbi, R. Mahrez (A. Hadj-Moussa 65’), M. Amoura (I. Maza 60’), B. Bounedjah (A. Gouiri 65’)