Mahrez & Amoura book Algeria's WC ticket! Guinea beat Mozambique without Guirassy

Desert Foxes are heading to their fifth FIFA World Cup! Thanks to a crushing 3-0 win over Somalia - which played the home game in Algeria, as odd as it sounds - Vladimir Petkovic's men booked the ticket for the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and became the fourth African national team to accomplish that, after Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt.

The clash against the sorry Ocean Stars was over even before it started, as the away team had a 2-0 lead after only 19 minutes, with Riyad Mahrez being the leading figure. Algeria's captain first assisted for Mohamed Amoura's sixth-minute opener, and then scored himself 13 minutes later.

The Desert Foxes awaited the break with a 2-0 advantage, and had mercy on their rivals after the break, as they scored "only" once in the second 45 minutes, though the "executioners" were the same. Mahrez recorded his second assist, while Amoura completed a brace, setting the final score in the 58th minute.

Algerians knew what they needed and went for it from the first referee's whistle, breaking the deadlock already after six minutes. Wolfsburg striker Mohamed Amoura found the net with a skilful close-range volley following a nice Riyad Mahrez's cross from the right flank.

Thirteen minutes later, the Al-Ahli forward scored himself and sealed the deal early in the game, as the party in Oran could start. Once again, Somalia's flanks were weak, the cross from the left side went all over to the far post, where the ex-Man City man awaited the ball and smashed it into the top of the net.

Despite three more attempts on target, the result didn't change until the break, though the matter of the winner was already resolved.

Mahrez and Amoura's show continued after the break, as the former recorded his second assist in the game and the latter completed a brace in the 58th minute. The "recipe" was the same again: a great cross from the right flank and a superb finish, only this time, Amoura scored with a header, making it 3-0.

In the following ten minutes, Petkovic subbed off both his team's heroes, giving the crowd in Oran a chance to give them a round of applause and thank them for their incredible performance. Following the duo's exit from the pitch, the rhythm significantly dropped, as the Desert Foxes were as relaxed as it gets, considering the success they had achieved, so the result did not change.

On-song Ogam strikes again to deliver Harambee Stars' first victory over Burundi in 16 years

Guinea can win even without Serhou Guirassy. Moreover, the Borussia Dortmund striker should be worried for his place on the team, as the new National Elephants' star was born in Maputo today!

On his debut with the national team, Abdoul Karim Traore scored a brace for the road victory over Mozambique! The 18-year-old found the net in the second and 59th minutes, while the Mambas managed to bounce back only after the opener, equalizing over Reinildo Mandava in the 19th minute - 2-1.

Still, Uganda benefited the most from Guinea's triumph. The Cranes beat Botswana on the road and gained a three-point edge over third-placed Mozambique ahead of the final qualifying round.

Only 66 seconds into the game, the visitors opened the scoring and stunned everyone at Estadio do Zimpeto in Maputo. Ousmane Camara crossed a lovely ball from the left side and found Abdoul Karim Traore all alone in the heart of the rivals' box. The Belgian side Leuven's forward and a debutant in the national team jersey took no prisoners, finding the bottom-left corner of Mozambique custodian Ernan's goal with a decent header.

However, it didn't take much for the Mambas to bounce back after the initial shock. In the 19th minute, Pepo took a long-range free kick, crossing the ball into the area, where Sunderland centre-back Reinildo Mandava met it and found the net with a fantastic header, levelling the score.

Until the break, the visitors were more concrete, but the courageous Mambas blocked each of their attempts, keeping the score level at the break.

PLAYER RATINGS: Ogam dazzles as Vincent Harper struggles in Harambee Stars' victory over Burundi

Six minutes into the second half, Guinea's defender, Antoine Conte had a decent chance, but his shot from inside the box went straight into Ernan's arms. Eight minutes later, the centre-back initiated a hasty counterattack, but this time, passed the ball for Traore, who netted a beauty from the edge of the box, completing a brace and putting his team in front again.

Nevertheless, this time Paulo Duarte's men didn't back down, as they wasted another fantastic chance minutes later, but outstanding Ernan prevented Aliou Balde from scoring. The custodian's counterpart on the opposite team, Soumaila Sylla stepped up thirteen minutes before the end, stopping Alfons Amade's powerful first-touch volley from the edge of the area and keeping his team in the lead, and - as it turned out in the end - securing Guinea's triumph.

Even though the National Elephants won, they remained fourth, a point behind Mozambique, but seriously ruined the Mambas' plans. Namely, Uganda beat Botswana on the road and gained a three-point edge over Conde Chiquinho's men ahead of the final qualifying round in which everything will be resolved.

WC QUALIFICATION AFRICA - MATCHDAY 9

Wednesday

Eswatini - Angola 2-2 (0-0)

/Figuareido 48,54 - Buatu 69, Papel 80/

Ethiopia - Guinea B. 1-0 (1-0)

/James 27/

Libya - Cape Verde 3-3 (2-1)

/Lopes 1 og, Al Mariami 42, Al Shalui 58 - Arcanjo 29, Cabral 76, Semedo 82/

Mauritius - Cameroon 0-2 (0-0)

/Ngameleu 57, Mbeumo 90+2/

Central African Republic - Ghana 0-5 (0-1)

/Salisu 20, Partey 52, Djiku 69, Ayew 71, Sulemana 87/

Chad - Mali 0-2 (0-0)

/Doumbia 19, 74/

Comores - Madagascar 1-2 (0-1)

/Said 81 - Couturier 11, Raheriniaina 73/

Djibouti - Egypt 0-3 (0-2)

/Adel 8, Salah 14, 84/

Sierra Leone - Burkina Faso 0-1 (0-1)

/Zougrana 42/

Niger - Congo 3-1 (1-0)

/Sosah 45+3, Oumarou 49, Adebayor 67 - Bassinga 90+4/

Tanzania - Zambia 0-1 (0-0)

/Sakala 75/

Thursday

Burundi - Kenya 0-1 (0-0)

/Ogam 72/

Botswana - Uganda 0-1 (0-0)

/Ssemugabi 55/

Liberia - Namibia 3-1 (2-0)

/Kosiah 3 pen, Bah 9, Ledlum 81 - Karuuombe 87/

Malawi - Equatorial Guinea POSTPONED

Mozambique - Guinea 1-2 (1-1)

/Mandava 19 - Traore 2, 59/

Somalia - Algeria 0-3 (0-2)

/Amoura 6, 58, Mahrez 19/

Friday

16.00: (16.0) South Sudan (10.0) Senegal (1.12)

16.00: (3.70) Gambia (3.20) Gabon (2.15)

16.00: (40.0) Seychelles (18.0) Ivory Coast (1.01)

16.00: (2.05) Sudan (3.20) Mauritania (4.00)

16.00: (3.15) Togo (3.25) Dr Congo (2.35)

19.00: (16.0) Lesotho (7.50) Nigeria (1.17)

19.00: (2.90) Rwanda (3.00) Benin (2.70)

19.00: (35.0) Sao Tome (14.0) Tunisia (1.02)

19.00: (17.0) Zimbabwe (5.20) S.Africa (1.25)

***odds are subject to change***