CHAN 2023: Hosts Algeria roll on to the final with thrashing of Niger
2022 African Nations Championship hosts Algeria advanced with ease to the final of the competition with a dominant 5-0 victory over Niger in Oran on Tuesday.
Competition leading scorer Aymen Mahious scored twice to go along with goals from Ayoub Abdellaoui and Soufiane Bayazid as well as an own goal in a lopsided affair. Algeria advance to Saturday’s final where the Greens will face the winner of Tuesday’s later semifinal between Senegal and Madagascar.
The hosts came out energized and were relentless against a Nigerien defense whose perfect defensive record prior to Tuesday’s clash was ended in emphatic fashion.t
Niger goalkeeper Mahamadou Djibo did well to turn away a 2nd minute header from Abderrahmane Meziane’s corner kick but it was all downhill from there.
Djibo dealt poorly with another Meziane corner in the 15th minute and tipped the ball towards his far post where Abdellaoui headed in to send the home support into celebration.
An excellent through pass from Zakaria Draoui set up Algeria’s second with Mahious getting behind to blast his shot past a helpless Djibo. Another high quality service set up a second for Mahious when he headed in a free kick delivered by Youssef Laoufi from the right flank.
A miserable first half for Niger ended with Mokhtar Belkhiter’s corner kick bouncing off Nigerien captain Boureima Katkoré and into his own net.
The second half calmed down with the match clearly won at that point. Niger were able to create a couple of half chances but did not pose a serious threat to the goal of Algeria keeper Farid Chaâl.
Algeria brought on substitutions for their key players and one of them, Bayazid, wrapped up the scoring with a near-post finish in the 83rd minute from Houssem Mrezigue’s cross
