Result: Algeria 3-1 Zimbabwe
Date: 12 November 2020
Venue: Stade du 5 Juillet 1962
Algeria maintained their perfect start in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after defeating Zimbabwe 3-1 in Group H on Thursday evening.
The Warriors had a bevy of South African-based footballer, and some formely in the line-up, with Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat, captain Knowledge Musona and Teenage Hadebe among them while Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez skippered the Desert Foxes.
The visitors were finding early chances with Billiat forcing a save out of goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi in the sixth minute while Tino Kadewere came close again with a header in the 18th minute that sailed just over the bar.
However, Baghdad Bounedjah broke the deadlock for Algeria on the half-hour mark from the rebound after shot-stopper Elvis Chipezeze saved the initial strike.
Sofiane Feghouli doubled the lead for the hosts just before the break with a header past Chipezeze after a cross by Mahrez.
The Warriors were working their way back into the game in the early exchanges of the second stanza but they lacked the final pass.
Algeria eventually put the game beyond Zdravko Logarusic's charges in the 67th minute thanks to individual brilliance of Mahrez, who got past two challenges before firing home a strike to make it 3-0.
Kadawere pulled a goal back for Zimbabwe in the last ten minutes after being set up by M'Bolhi but it was too little too late, as the Desert Foxes held on to clinch their third victory in as many matches to remain at the top of the pool, five points ahead of second-placed Warriors.
Burkina Faso 3-1 Malawi
Gabon 2-1 Gambia
