Algeria seal 2017 AFCON berth after win at Seychelles

Ahram Online , Thursday 2 Jun 2016

Algeria beat Seychelles away from home without the services of star trio Riyad Mahrez, Yacine Brahimi and Islam Slimani

Algerian players
Algerian players and officials celebrate after Nabil Bentaleb, scored a goal against Senegal during their final Group C African Cup soccer match at Estadio De Malabo in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 (AP)

Algeria were the second African side to secure a spot at next year's African Cup of Nations after Morocco following a 2-0 qualifying away win at Seychelles on Thursday.

Goals either side of the interval from Yassince Benzia and Dinamo Zagreb forward El-Arabi Soudani ensured Algeria's progression to the biennial tournament with just one round to go, topping Group J on 13 points.

Algeria had to do without English Premier League winner Riyad Mahrez and Porto midfielder Yacine Brahimi due to injury, with another star in Islam Slimani suspended.

Second-placed side Ethiopia are eight points behind the North Africans, but the former will still visit Lesotho in Maseru on June 5 for their penultimate group game.

Morocco were the first African side to guarantee qualification for the 2017 Gabon finals after beating Cape Verde 2-0 in March.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)

 
Short link: