Mahrez and Algeria seal AFCON finals qualification | OneFootball

City winger Riyad Mahrez played the full 90 minutes and provided a crucial assist as he helped Algeria secure a 1-0 win over Niger and so confirm qualification for the 2023 African Cup of Nations finals.

In a game staged at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Rades, Tunisia, Desert Foxes skipper Mahrez and Algeria sealed back to back wins over Niger to confirm their place at the AFCON showpiece, to be staged in Ivory Coast later this year.

Looking to build on last Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Niger, Mahrez it was who supplied the crucial sixth minute assist for the game's sole goal.

His through ball enabled Baghdad Bounedjah to fire home a left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

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That strike proved enough to settle a hard-fought encounter and so earn Algeria a fourth win out of four in Group A to put them on 12 points.

With the top two from each group going through to the finals it means Mahrez and his teammates are already assured of a place at the finals even with two qualifying games still to play later this year with Algeria reaching the AFCON finals for a 20th time overall.