Algeria beat Tanzania to smoothen their 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations campaign

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania

Rami Bensebaini and Mohamed El Amine Amoura scored in either half as Algeria won 2-0 away to Tanzania’s Taifa Stars at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, making it back-to-back victories in the qualifiers for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.

Les Fennecs, the 2019 African champions had started their campaign with a similar win at home against Uganda, and have now made it back-to-back victories against both East African neighbors.

The victory takes Djamel Belmadi’s men to six points and top of Group F, four ahead of second placed Niger who earned a 1-1 away draw to Uganda earlier in the day.

Bensebaini broke the deadlock at the stroke of halftime when he hammered the ball home at the backpost. A Youcef Bellaili freekick at the near post was flicked back by Aissa mandi, with Bensebaini finishing off.

Before that, both sides had close opportunities back to back in the 31st minute. Adam Ounas forced the Tanzanian keeper into a good save with a shot from the right and when the ball swung to the other end, Mbwana Samatta’s diving header hit the outside of the post off a Saimon Msuva cross.

In the second half, Amoura was brought on for Ounas and his presence was a constant problem for Tanzania. In the 57th minute he floated in a cross from the left, but Bellaili’s header unmarked was wide.

On the other end, Tanzania came close when Samatta set up Salum Feisal, but the Yanga midfielder’s rasping shot was saved by the keeper.

Algeria were not defensive and attacked whenever they found a route to the other end. Yacine Brahimi who had also come off the bench forced a low save from the keeper with a curling effort in the 77th minute as they threatened for a second.

They were rewarded in the 89th minute off a counter, Amoura scoring his first goal in Algeria colors. From a counter, the substitute’s initial shot came off the upright and the ball fell kindly to Ismail Bennacer who laid it back to him.

The forward struck an unstoppable shot from inside the box into the roof of the net.