CAN 2022: Algeria beats Botswana and equals Egypt, Mahrez ensures

Algeria won 5-0 against Botswana on Monday evening in the sixth and final day of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Mustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida. This is the 24th unbeaten match since 2018. Djamel Belmadi’s men have now equalled Egypt’s historic record of 24 games without defeat.

Algeria won largely against Botswana (5-0), this Monday, March 29, 2021, in the framework of the 6th and last day of the CAN 2022 qualifiers, in its temple of the Mustapha Tchaker stadium in Blida. After more than 20 minutes of observation, the right-back Mehdi Zeffane opens the score in the 24th minute in favour of the Algerian team, already dominant in the game. The half-time score was 1-0.

In the second half, the Algerians will unfold, by dynamiting the lock of the Botswana defense. In the 58th minute, Sofiane Feghouli will add to the score for Algeria, before Riyad Mahrez converted a penalty (64′). The two newcomers, Baghdad Bounedjah and Farid Boulaya, will also illustrate themselves during this match, by scoring respectively the fourth and fifth Algerian goals (72′ and 88′).

With this great victory at home against Botswana (5-0), Algeria ends its CAN 2022 qualifying campaign on a high note. The captain Riyad Mahrez and his teammates finish at the top of group H with 14 points, ahead of Zimbabwe (2nd, 8 pts). In 6 games, the African champions remained unbeaten (4 wins and 2 draws). They scored 19 goals and conceded 6. The icing on the cake is that Djamel Belmadi’s men have equalled Egypt’s historic record of 24 games without defeat.
Group H

Result: 6th and final day

Stade Mustapha Tchaker (Blida)

Monday 29 March 2021

Algeria v Botswana 5-0

Goals

Algeria: Mehdi Zeffane (24′), Sofiane Feghouli (58′), Riyad Mahrez (64′), Baghdad Bounedjah (72′), Farid Boulaya (88′)

Warnings

Algeria: Ismaël Bennacer (29′), Sofiane Feghouli (77′)

Botswana: Onkarabile Ratanang (11′), Simisani Mathumo (17′)

Referees Jean Ouattara, assisted by Seydou Tiama and Habib Judicael Oumar Sano (Burkina Faso trio). 4th official: Vincent Kaboré (Burkina Faso).

Teams

Algeria: Alexandre Oukidja – Mehdi Zeffane, Aïssa Mandi (71′ Abdelkader Bedrane), Djameleddine Benlamri (78′ Abdelkader Bedrane), Ramy Bensebaini – Ramiz Zerrouki, Sofiane Feghouli, Ismaël Bennacer (60′ Youcef Belaïli) – Riyad Mahrez (cap. ), Islam Slimani (61′ Baghdad Bounedjah), Saïd Benrahma (61′ Farid Boulaya). Coach: Djamel Belmadi

Botswana: Kabelo Dambe – Tshepo Maikano, Simisani Mathumo, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (cap.), Onkarabile Ratanang – Gape Gaogangwe, Thero Setsile, Kutlwelo Mpolokang (55′ Mogakolodi Ngele) – Mothusi Cooper, Onkabetse Makgantai (55′ Thatayaone Kgamanyane), Kobamelo Kebaikanye (73′ Mothusi Johnson) Coach: Adel Amrouche (Algeria)