Three-goal triumph seals ticket
Algeria’s men’s football team punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clinical 3–0 victory over Somalia on 9 October, a result greeted by fireworks across Algiers and a flood of congratulatory messages on social media platforms popular throughout the region.
In a packed Nelson Mandela Stadium, nicknamed ‘le 5-Juillet’ by locals, the Fennecs dominated from the opening whistle, capitalising on early pressure to calm any nerves in the stands and on the bench, where coach Djamel Belmadi urged his players to keep possession and avoid complacency.
Amoura takes spotlight
The night belonged to 23-year-old striker Mohamed Amoura, whose sixth-minute opener came from a poacher’s finish inside the six-yard box before his second, shortly after the restart, showcased dazzling acceleration and a curled shot that left Somali goalkeeper Said Aweys rooted to the turf.
Speaking after the match, Amoura credited senior teammates for ‘constant advice in training’ and promised that the squad would ‘represent Algeria and the whole Arab world with honour’ in North America, a quote rapidly shared by Algerian Press Service and replayed by satellite channels across Central Africa.
Mahrez experience shines
Captain Riyad Mahrez, scorer of the 19th-minute penalty that doubled the advantage, directed attacks with trademark calm, drifting infield from the right wing to overload midfield lines and release overlapping full-backs, a tactical tweak analysts on Radio Algérie credited with suffocating Somalia’s counter-attacking ambitions.
The former Manchester City winger, now at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, insisted the job is ‘only half done’, reminding reporters that group winners must maintain focus through the remaining qualifiers to protect seeding positions ahead of the final African playoff stage, revamped by FIFA this cycle.
Presidential celebrations carry weight
Within minutes of the final whistle, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued a statement thanking ‘Les Verts’ for restoring ‘the taste of great joys’ to Algerians everywhere, a message echoed by several ministers and by the Algerian diaspora groups that gathered in Paris, Montréal and Pointe-Noire to wave flags.
National broadcaster ENTV replayed the presidential clip throughout the evening, intercutting scenes of jubilant fans on the Algiers corniche with studio analysis highlighting the economic boost major tournaments can bring through merchandising and tourism, topics closely watched by Congolese entrepreneurs eyeing the continental football economy.
Maghreb quartet dominates African race
Algeria joins Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia as the first African nations to validate places at the expanded 48-team World Cup, underlining Maghreb supremacy in a qualifying window where West and Central African heavyweights such as Senegal, Nigeria and Cameroon dropped unexpected points.
The continental table shows the four North African sides averaging more than two goals per game while conceding just once collectively, statistics compiled by the Confederation of African Football that reinforce growing calls for other federations to invest in youth academies and sports-science departments.
CAF observer and former Congolese international Christopher Samba told our newsroom that ‘North African organisations plan cycles years in advance; their stability is bearing fruit’, urging Congo’s Red Devils to emulate that strategic continuity as the next round of qualifiers looms in November.
North America stage set for debut trends
United States, Canada and Mexico will co-host the 2026 showpiece across 16 cities, including storied venues such as the Azteca in Mexico City and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, where Mahrez and company could encounter summer temperatures comparable to the Maghreb, according to meteorological projections.
FIFA’s expanded format provides nine guaranteed African slots plus one intercontinental playoff, a significant rise from previous editions that analysts on Canal+ Afrique believe may encourage greater tactical experimentation and give promising Congolese talents like Guy Mbenza bigger stages to showcase scoring instincts.
Travel logistics also evolve: direct flights between Algiers and Houston are under negotiation, while CAF is pushing for charter agreements to cut layovers for African fans. Event managers in Brazzaville already discuss fan-zone installations along the Levée de la Corniche if Congo reaches the finals.
Congo interest grows ahead of November fixtures
In sports cafés from Moungali to Tié-Tié, supporters followed the Algerian broadcast as a barometer for their own hopes, debating line-ups they expect coach Isaac Ngata to select against Zambia. The Fennecs’ assured display was held up as the template for slick pressing and ruthless finishing.
Local sports economist Aimé Bita cites Algeria’s performance as proof that early qualification can unlock sponsorship streams months before the tournament. ‘Brands love certainty,’ he noted on Télé Congo, predicting regional advertising campaigns will soon feature Mahrez alongside Congolese stars to capture pan-African audiences.
The Algerian federation confirmed friendly tours through West Africa next March, offering to play in Brazzaville if scheduling allows. Such fixtures, officials argue, foster technical exchanges and inspire youngsters. Congolese academy coach Yvon Louamba welcomes the idea, saying ‘seeing Mahrez live would motivate an entire generation’.
Talks are expected to conclude before year’s end.
