By our man in Morocco
ALGERIA turned the Stade Prince Moulay El Hassan into their own backyard last night as they dismantled Equatorial Guinea to maintain their 100 per cent AFCON record.
The Desert Foxes didn’t just win; they took over the compact Rabat venue, with thousands of green-and-white clad fans making the 12,000-capacity ground feel like a pressure cooker for the struggling Nzalang Nacional.
Despite resting star man Riyad Mahrez, Vladimir Petkovic’s side looked like a well-oiled machine.
The carnage began in the 19th minute when Zineddine Belaid rose highest to thump home a header from an Anis Hadj Moussa corner, sending the traveling support into a frenzy.
The Moulay Hassan pitch, slick and fast, suited the Algerians’ one-touch football perfectly.
Just six minutes later, Fares Chaibi doubled the lead, ghosting past a static defense to fire an unstoppable strike beyond Jesus Owono.
Before the Equatoguineans could even catch their breath in the Moroccan heat, it was three. Ibrahim Maza got in on the act after 32 minutes, nodding home another pinpoint cross from the electric Hadj Moussa to effectively end the contest before the break.
Equatorial Guinea, who famously shocked the Algerians in 2022, found no such luck here.
Veteran frontman Emilio Nsue did manage to pull one back shortly after the interval with a cracking 20-yard drive, but it was nothing more than a consolation.
The win sees Algeria fly into the Round of 16 with nine points from nine, and they’ll be staying right here in Rabat for their knockout clash against DR Congo next Tuesday. On this evidence, nobody will want to face them at their new “home” ground.
