Algeria to wrap up AFCON qualifying

by BackPageTXT

Wednesday Aug 31, 2016. 09:30

Algeria will wrap up their successful 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign when they host minnows Lesotho in Blida on Sunday evening.

The Fennec Foxes have been imperious in Group J of the qualifiers, going unbeaten through five matches and claiming 13 points to guarantee top spot and therefore a berth at the Nations Cup finals next year.

As for Lesotho, aside from a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Seychelles back in March, their campaign has been predictably lean and they enter the final round sitting at the bottom of the pool with just three points.

Algeria will fancy their chances of at least repeating a 3-1 win they claimed over Lesotho in the teams’ first meeting a year ago in Maseru. A first-half strike from Faouzi Ghoulam and a late brace by Hilel Soudani secured the victory, with the hosts’ consolation goal coming from Ralekoti Mokhahlane.

The group’s other match sees Ethiopia host the Seychelles in Hawass on Saturday. The game at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida will be refereed by Guinean official Sekou Ahmed Toure.