Algeria Qualifies for 2026 FIFA World Cup; Uganda Secures Second Place
Riyad Mahrez played a pivotal role as Algeria secured their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Somalia.
The former Manchester City and Leicester City winger set up Mohamed Amoura's opening volley before scoring a stunning half-volley in the 19th minute.
As captain, Mahrez showcased his skill by evading his marker and assisting Amoura for the third goal just 12 minutes into the second half, after which both players were substituted.
Algeria nearly extended their lead through Youcef Belaili, but the final whistle prompted an enthusiastic celebration from the home crowd in Oran.
Although the match was officially a home game for Somalia, it took place in Algeria due to the lack of a suitable stadium for international matches in Somalia.
With one game remaining, Algeria has secured the top position in Group G and will return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, when they reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated by the eventual champions, Germany.
Under the guidance of coach Vladimir Petkovic, Algeria joins fellow North African nations Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt at the 2026 finals in North and Central America.
Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane and a recent addition to the Algerian national team, remained on the bench after switching his international allegiance this month. The 27-year-old, whose grandparents hail from Algeria, previously represented France at youth levels.
"My entire family is proud of my decision, and my grandfather is particularly happy that I have chosen to represent Algeria," Zidane stated ahead of the match.
Meanwhile, Uganda moved closer to securing second place in Group G with a narrow 1-0 win over Botswana, thanks to Jude Ssemugabi's header from a corner in the second half.
The Cranes now hold a three-point lead over Mozambique , who suffered a 2-1 defeat at home against Guinea, and have a significant goal difference advantage.
Uganda will face Algeria next, while Mozambique will meet Somalia in the final round of matches on Monday.
Only the four best second-placed teams across the nine groups will qualify for the African play-offs next month, with the ultimate winners advancing to a final inter-continental qualifier.
Group H Update: Liberia Keeps Hopes Alive
In other news, Liberia maintained their chances for a second-place finish in Group H with a 3-1 victory over Namibia at home.
The Lone Stars took control early with Ayouba Kosiah's penalty and Mamadu Bah's goal within the first nine minutes in Paynesville.
Edward Ledlum added a third goal late in the match before Namibia managed to pull one back through Dawid Ndeunyema in the final minutes.
Namibia currently sits second in the group with 15 points, just one point ahead of Liberia.
The final round of Group H fixtures will see Namibia travel to already-qualified Tunisia, while Liberia will visit Equatorial Guinea.
However, the situation is complicated as Malawi 's match against Equatorial Guinea in Lilongwe was postponed due to unforeseen travel issues affecting the visiting team.
Both Malawi and Liberia still have opportunities to surpass Namibia for second place, pending a decision from the Confederation of African Football on the rescheduling of the match.
In a related development, Equatorial Guinea's football federation announced the suspension of coach Juan Micha after he and several senior players declined to travel to Malawi. His assistant, Casto Nopo Abelso, will take charge of the upcoming match against Liberia in Malabo.
The penultimate round of Africa's qualification campaign concludes on Friday, with Senegal and Ivory Coast poised to secure their spots in the finals if results favor them.