WCQ: Algeria struggle with Botswana but a veteran brings the victory

On paper it looked excellent. Algeria at home, with 50000 crazy fans against Botswana who lost all three encounters with the Desert Foxes so far. Algeria demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the World Cup campaign, recording five victories against just one defeat. Their attacking prowess has been particularly impressive, with 16 goals scored across these fixtures, whilst maintaining defensive solidity by conceding only six times. Experienced players like Riyad Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, Saïd Benrahma, Youcef Belaïli, Houssem Aouar and Nabil Bentaleb were giving the home fans enough security that the match will be won with easy.

It did happen eventually, but not without drama. In defense, apart from Bensabaini (Dortmund) they were represented by home players and among them is goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz who allowed an amateurish goal which nearly left Algeria with only one point. In the end, Mohamed El Amine Amoura from Wolfsburg and Baghdad Bounedjah, a 33-year-old striker who never played outside Algeria had to find a way to a 3-1 victory which keeps the home team at the top of Group G.

Algeria started the first half with a lot of intensity, looking to create danger from the start. Botswana defended brilliantly, aiming to keep the ball away and take the pressure off. Mohamed El Amine Amoura had the first chance of the match but his header was not good. The guests had a much better chance minutes later when a deep ball from their own half found Thabang Sesinyi one on one with keeper Guendouz but the Botswana forward was half surprised with the chance and half deconcentrated so his shot ended embarrassingly wide.

Dortmund’s Bensabaini sent a superb pass from 40 meters thought the air, and Wolfsburg’s Amoura headed the ball straight into the net – a check mate in just two moves, 1-0, 33rd minute. Everything looked normal as Algeria finally used their initiative and turned it into a goal. But then Guendouz embarrassed himself with a cheap goal in the 43rd minute. Mothusi Johnson took a free kick from the left side of the field and the ball passed everybody and ended near the keeper’s left side where Kopelang was all alone and scored to the Guendouz’s close side.

The second half was much duller, simply because Botswana went back to their defending mode, while Algeria stars Mahrez, Bentaleb, Aouar and Gouiri couldn’t create a proper chance. It was up to Mohamed El Amine Amoura create magic again. This time, he assisted with a wonderful pass from the right and the reserve 33-year old striker Baghdad Bounedjah found the net and scored what ended up to be the winning goal. The veteran striker only confirmed his excellent night with an injury time score.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - AFRICA

Wednesday

Seychelles - Gabon 0-4 (0-3)

/Bouanga 4, 34, 38, M'Bemba 89/

Thursday

Chad - Ghana 1-1 (0-1)

/Ecua 89 - Ayew 18/

Angola - Libya 0-1 (0-0)

/Al Mariami 48/

Guinea Bissau - Sierra Leone 1-1 (0-1)

/Balde 74 - Kamara 45+1/

Madagascar - Central African Republic 2-0 (1-0)

/Caddy 45+2,  Randrianantenaina 59/

Mauritius - Cape Verde 0-2 (0-1)

/Cabral 22, Borges 70/

Sao Tome - Equatorial Guinea 2-3 (2-0)

/Afonso 8 pen, 42 pen - Ganet 52, Salvador 61, Nabil 69/

Algeria - Botswana 3-1 (1-1)

/Amoura 33,  Bounedjah 71, 90+6 - Kopelang 43/

Cameroon - Eswatini 3-0 (3-0)

/Gamedze 6 (og), N'Koudou 25, Ebong 28/

Mali - Comoros 3-0 (1-0)

/Dorgeles 28, Doumbia 70 pen, Coulibaly 76/

Tunisia - Liberia 3-0 (1-0)

/Mastouri 5, Sassi 66, Saad 90+4/

Friday

15.00: (15.0) Somalia (5.90) Guinea (1.23)

15.00: (9.00) South Sudan (4.40) DR Congo (1.40)

16.00: (2.65) Kenya (3.05) Gambia (2.90)

19.00: (1.85) Benin (3.45) Zimbabwe (4.50)

19.00: (22.0) Djibouti (10.5) Burkina Faso (1.10)

19.00: (8.00) Lesotho (4.20) South Africa (1.45)

22.00: (1.20) Egypt (6.50) Ethiopia (16.0)

22.00: (1.17) Ivory Coast (7.25) Burundi (17.0)

22.00: (3.00) Mauritania (3.05) Togo (2.55)

22.00: (1.10) Morocco (11.0) Niger (18.0)

22.00: (1.30) Senegal (5.20) Sudan (11.0)

Saturday

19.00: (1.37) Nigeria (4.50) Rwanda (10.00)