Bir El Djir, Algeria – In a match hosted in Bir El Djir, Algeria officially sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 3–0 win over Somalia, powered by a brilliant brace from Mohamed Amoura and a composed finish from Riyad Mahrez.
The Desert Foxes wasted no time asserting dominance. Amoura struck first in the 7th minute, bursting through the Somali defense before slotting low past the goalkeeper. Just twelve minutes later, Mahrez doubled the lead in the 19th minute, calmly converting after a slick buildup down the right flank.
Somalia, already bottom of the group, showed flashes of determination but struggled to contain Algeria’s pace. Their hopes of a comeback were crushed shortly after the break when Amoura struck again in the 57th minute, latching onto a through ball and firing into the far corner to make it 3–0.
The result moves Algeria to 22 points, mathematically securing top spot in the six-team group. Uganda sit second on 18 points, but with only one match left, they can no longer overtake the North Africans — confirming Algeria’s ticket to the World Cup.
For Somalia, the loss leaves them last with just 1 point, their campaign defined more by grit than results. They will conclude their group journey on Tuesday against Mozambique, seeking a final moment of pride. Algeria, meanwhile, will celebrate qualification in front of home fans as they host Uganda in what will now be a victory lap rather than a decider.
Clinical, composed, and already thinking ahead — Algeria are World Cup-bound. Somalia, though out of contention, will hope their rebuilding process sparks something brighter in the years to come.