On the occasion of the African qualifying play-offs for the 2022 World Cup, the three Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) achieved the good deal of the day.
Especially the first two.
Algeria and Tunisia won away by the same score (0-1), respectively in Cameroon and Mali.
They take a very big option on qualification before returning home on Tuesday.
The Moroccans, by winning a draw in DR Congo, are also in a favorable position
The big blow of Algeria
Algeria left Cameroon disappointed at the last African Cup of Nations.
But Djamel Belmadi's men have pride and this time left Cameroon with a smile.
After a rather apathetic start to the match, but where only a free kick from Lyonnais Karl Toko-Ekambi worried them, the Algerians managed to get their heads out of the water.
If André Onana took out a superb parade on a counter by Islam Slimani (13th), the second duel between the two men was won by the Algerian.
His powerful header on receiving an off-center free kick slipped between the gloves of the Cameroonian goalkeeper and the bar (0-1, 41st).
After the break, a floodlight failure interrupted the game for seven long minutes.
The Cameroonians logically pushed but without being really hard-hitting in front of M'Bolhi's goal.
The nightmare of Malian Sissako against Tunisia
The success was Tunisian in Bamako under a temperature of 38 degrees.
It all happened in two minutes and two errors by the same man.
Former PSG defender Moussa Sissako, who has never played in the Parisian first team, was, despite himself, the man of the match.
While Mali spins the ball around their area, Tunisia moderately presses the defenders.
Kouyaté passes the ball to Sissako, placed in the center just in front of his surface.
And without looking at the position of his goalkeeper, the Malian sends a back pass that is far too violent and out of reach of his doorman.
To everyone's surprise, Tunisia opened the scoring (0-1, 35th) on one of the most ridiculous own goals of the year.
A few moments later, still tormented by his improbable blunder, the latter fouls Seifeddine Jaziri in the position of last defender and is therefore logically sent off.
The perfect nightmare in front of his audience.
With ten against eleven and morale at half mast, the mission was impossible.
And Tunisia has logically imposed itself.
🇲🇱 Mali 0 - 1 Tunisia 🇹🇳
What a huge mistake by Sissako!
It's a gift for the Carthage Eagles who open the scoring 🎁
The match live > https://t.co/cUlISgLwxt pic.twitter.com/g8qXLadeNH
– THE TEAM (@lequipe) March 25, 2022
Morocco got scared
Favored against DR Congo, Vahid Halilhodzic's Morocco suffered for a long time against the teammates of Marseille Cedric Bakambu.
It was the Congolese, who dominated in the first period, who opened the scoring in the 12th minute thanks to a shot from Wissa's right.
Bakambu then missed the chance to double the lead.
Lectured by Halilhodzic, the Moroccans recovered after the break but missed the equalizer with a penalty completely missed by Ryan Mmaee (55th).
But they ended up scoring a quarter of an hour from the end on a recovery from Tarik Tissoudali.
In the end, this draw is a good deal for the Atlas Lions.
But they will have to raise their level on Tuesday if they want to avoid immense disappointment.
