Tuesday Mar 28, 2023. 14:50
Algeria head coach Djamel Belmadi expressed his delight at qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with two games to spare after beating Niger 1-0 in Tunisia on Monday evening.
For the second match in succession, the Desert Warriors produced an uninspired performance as Baghdad Bounedjah’s solitary goal after just six minutes proved to be the difference at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis.
Belmadi’s side maintained their 100 per cent record in Group F of qualifying to pull eight points clear of Tanzania ahead of their clash with Uganda in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday evening.
Belmadi acknowledged the Menas didn’t make it easy for them but declared that the two-time African champions had achieved what they’d set out to do.
“We obtained what we had come for, and that is victory in the match and qualification,” the former Algeria international said after the match.
“It was a difficult match against a difficult opponent but we are delighted to achieve our objectives from the game. Now we will plan for the Cup of Nations and every FIFA window will be an opportunity for us to prepare.”
The North Africans will face the Cranes in June before closing out their qualifying campaign with a home tie against the Taifa Stars in September.
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