#2026 World Cup: Algeria Secures A Slot After A 3-0 Win Over Somalia
He was named among the substitutes by Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic with goalkeeper Alexis Guendouz from reigning Algerian champions Mouloudia Alger in the starting line-up.
Algeria will be making a fifth World Cup appearance when they travel to the 2026 tournament, which the United States, Canada, and Mexico are co-hosting.
After first round exits in the 1982, 1986, and 2010 tournaments, they reached the second round at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, losing 2-1 to eventual champions Germany.
Elsewhere, Ryan Ogam scored after 73 minutes to give Kenya a 1-0 win over Burundi in a fiery East African derby in Bujumbura, where the home side had to play with 10 men for all but six minutes.
Despite their numerical advantage, Kenya did not threaten to score until first-half added time when Jonathan Nahimana made a brilliant one-handed save from a long-range shot.
But the brave resistance of the Burundian Swallows finally broke when Ogam netted to lift the Kenyan Harambee Stars to third, eight points behind leaders and reigning African champions the Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast and Gabon have dominated the six-nation Group F, with one point dividing them going into their penultimate matches on Friday.
The Ivorians are away to the Seychelles in Mauritius because their Indian Ocean opponents do not have a FIFA-approved stadium.
Gabon have what is likely to be a much tougher task away in Nairobi to Gambia, another country lacking an international-standard venue.
Ivory Coast will secure a fourth World Cup appearance, and first since 2014, if they win and Gabon lose.
There are nine qualifiers scheduled for Friday, including three in Group C, where leaders Benin, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Lesotho all have a mathematical chance of finishing first.
