JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Veteran ahead Islam Slimani scored 5 minutes earlier than half-time to present Algeria a 1-0 win over Cameroon in Douala on Friday (March 25) within the first leg of a World Cup play-off.
Slimani, 33, soared in a crowded goalmouth to move a Youcef Belaili free-kick powerfully previous goalkeeper Andre Onana into the roof of the online.
Even 11 minutes of added time couldn’t deliver Cameroon an equaliser they usually should win in Blida on Tuesday to keep away from lacking successive World Cups.
Cameroon maintain the document for World Cup appearances by an African nation with seven and haven’t missed two in a row since first qualifying in 1982.
Success was notably candy for Algeria as they fared disastrously within the Atlantic port metropolis of Douala when defending the Africa Cup of Nations title two months in the past.
Algeria started the match boasting a 34-match unbeaten document solely to attract with Sierra Leone and lose to Equatorial Guinea and the Ivory Coast to make a humiliating first-round exit.
In Bamako, Mali defender Moussa Sissako conceded an own-goal and was despatched off inside 4 minutes as they misplaced 1-0 to Tunisia and now stand little probability of going to the World Cup for the primary time.
Under strain from Seifeddine Jaziri, Sissako pushed the ball towards his personal aim on 36 minutes, unaware that goalkeeper Ibrahim Mounkoro had strayed off his line, and the ball landed within the internet.
When Sissako dedicated a last-defender foul on Jaziri quickly after he was proven a purple card and though Mali created the higher second-half possibilities, they didn’t convert any into objectives.
Sad debut for Doucoure
Mali gave a primary cap to France-born Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, who had lengthy hoped to play for his nation of start earlier than agreeing to symbolize the homeland of his dad and mom.
In Kinshasa, Tarik Tissoudali scored an excellent equaliser as Morocco moved nearer to a sixth World Cup look by drawing 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A transfer that started with an excellent slide sort out by Moroccan defender Romain Saiss ended with Tissoudali rifling the ball into the online on 76 minutes within the first leg of their play-off.
Yoane Wissa had given DR Congo a Twelfth-minute lead, sprinting down the wing, slicing inside and unleashing a shot from simply outdoors the field that brushed Saiss and beat goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
With away objectives counting double if groups end degree on combination, a 0-0 attract Casablanca on Tuesday would take Morocco to the World Cup in Qatar.
Morocco had been unsettled after falling behind and Cedric Bakambu and Dieumerci Mbokani wasted possibilities to place the Congolese additional forward lead on a dark and windy night.
The guests squandered an early second-half probability to equalise when Ryan Mmaee blazed a penalty over the crossbar.
DR Congo had been diminished to 10 males with 5 minutes remaining when Ngonda Muzinga was despatched off after being yellow-carded twice. He will miss the return match.
Later on Friday, Egypt and Ghana have dwelling benefit over African champions Senegal and Nigeria respectively within the different first legs.
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The post Football: Slimani stars for Algeria, disaster for Mali’s Sissako first appeared on Umorr.
