It is now 26 matches without a loss for the Fennec Foxes of Algeria following their 1-0 friendly victory over Mali on Sunday, matching the record for an African national team that was previously set by Ivory Coast. In its match report, La Gazette du Fennec writes that once again Algeria struggled to assert themselves in the first half with an experimental midfield that was playing together for the first time. Mali was largely responsible for the “least successful first half of the Djamel Belhadi era”.
However, following a scoreless first half, Algeria found a 56th minute winner when a brilliant lobbed pass from Youcef Belaïli pass found Manchester City star attacker Riyad Mahrez, and the Algerian legend looped his finish over Stade Malien keeper Djigui Diarra to make the difference. Algeria will square off against neighbors and rivals Tunisia next on Friday. Video of Mahrez’s goal is below the link to La Gazette du Fennec’s recap of the match.
