00:05Brahim Mdani, the head coach of Algeria, just took over in September and has already ran
00:13into adversity in Burundi. Saeed Benrahma picked up a brace. So we're underway. Algeria
00:24attacking from left to right on this beautiful hybrid surface. But aesthetically, it's a fantastic
00:31looking pitch. Extremely well lit. And the stat, Ossin Aita Ahmed. Already Ashraf Abada brought down by Kojo
00:43Fodolaba. Abada, who recently lifted silverware, defeating Mamelodi Sundowns. He's getting his
00:5325th cap. Long ball towards Amoura. It's a driven cross. It's low and hard. And Farai Shaibi snatches at it.
01:09Well, that shot would have been useful if you saw Liverpool,
01:15famously winning the Premier League in his debut season.
01:18Malcolm Barcola comes to collect. And that's his first touch of the ball.
01:24Speculations from Togo, who have Ben Cibaini backpedaling. The shot from distance straight
01:33onto the head of Abada, who took it straight to the face.
01:42Oh, that does not look good.
01:46Well, he put his body on the line for country, Ashraf Abada. No doubt about that,
01:52because that was a rocket going towards Nadine Mastil's goal.
01:59He kept, he kept, he got low as well.
02:03It was Ginny Dakunam, the captain for both club and country, who unleashed a powerful shot.
02:14Oh, the stretcher is out. He may be
02:18going to come off.
02:24That's not what Algeria wanted.
02:29Already six players had to withdraw from the initial squad announced by Brahim Emdeni
02:38who also had to exit the pitch on injury for match day one.
02:47So this will give an opportunity for Brahim Emdeni and Patrice Neveu to
02:54speak to their players and share some instructions.
03:10Some highlights of the technique on display.
03:14Ashraf Abada
03:17was able to walk off.
03:24He'll be the protocol in place to make sure he's not concussed and able to
03:31to continue, but certainly he will be rocked at the very least.
03:36Algeria playing with 10 men for the time being.
03:42Abada has returned to the pitch and here he is at the bottom of your screens wearing number three.
03:50Clever little turn there from Nabil Bentaleb.
03:52The left-footed
03:55midfield maestro. Born in lead and he plays his club football for a lead.
04:01Hadjabusa's shot.
04:04It's one of those where
04:06it invites a header but
04:09if it isn't tipped
04:13could
04:16but he stayed true and didn't falter.
04:27Henry Kudosu
04:29it's a poorly timed pass and put his teammate Karim Dermann in an awkward position.
04:34He had to clip the heels of
04:36Avani Sajmoussa to prevent a dangerous counter-attack from
04:40from blossoming.
04:42And he's booked.
04:49Karim Dermann.
04:52The Estac Trois player.
04:56The long ball approach very much the word of the day
05:02for Togo.
05:04Utilize their strengths.
05:05They have the height advantages and
05:08they are pacy.
05:08And again it's Ashraf Abada
05:11who is the victim of
05:14another incident it appears.
05:20Now that's definitely the elbow of Pierre Najombé that
05:24connected with the lip of
05:26Abada who's getting battered.
05:29He came oh so close
05:33against Zambia here on match day one.
05:36Tried several times.
05:43Brought an end to that
05:45but Algeria seemed to be
05:47at least for a half moment
05:49in some type of danger.
05:55When it comes to commitment to the duels and challenges
05:57Togo are not pulling
06:00and not committing any half measures
06:05on this match so far.
06:08And Sajmoussa attempts to play Ramadazi
06:10who's going to drive into the box.
06:11Oh it's going to go with Amura!
06:14He misses!
06:15And that's a player who clearly isn't in confidence
06:18wearing the Algerian shirt.
06:19It looks like as if
06:21the kit weighs 50 kilos.
06:25The Amura of the World Cup qualifiers
06:28would have never dreamed to miss that opportunity.
06:32Perfectly served.
06:35Almost
06:38not deliberately it seemed as if
06:40Asi was looking to pick out Shaibi.
06:45Will he be destined to have a career
06:47of the same caliber of the legendary number seven?
06:52Kudusu was in an offside position.
06:56Frenetic pace now.
06:58Algeria, can they benefit from the madness?
07:01Mazza.
07:03Long pass, Anis Haizhmoussa.
07:06Waits for the overlap.
07:07He's going to give it to Asi.
07:09Asi's crossing has been incredible today.
07:12Deserves more.
07:15There's Haizhmouja.
07:18Rajmoussa.
07:22Audacious attempt to catch
07:24Malcolm Barkoda off of his line.
07:28But, to score from his own half.
07:32I'm glad to be very special.
07:35With his 1.89m frame.
07:39Denki attempts the acrobatic bicycle kick.
07:42But, strikes the back of Rami Bencibaini.
07:50Oh, and he's going to be booked for dangerous play.
07:56It's a bit controversial to book the attacker,
07:59in my opinion, for an acrobatic effort.
08:05Visibly, he has no intention of hurting Bencibaini.
08:15Get around this super defense.
08:22That was clever.
08:25Instinctive pass from Khareshhaibi towards Amin Guiri.
08:33He plays it early, doesn't he?
08:35Just knows that his teammate is going to be in that spot.
08:41That appeared to be match day.
08:42Here's Anis Haizhmoussa.
08:44Slows pace down, but changes the rhythm.
08:48And fouled by Lillian Brassier.
08:53The fans want another yellow card.
08:56Pierre Hachot won't be convinced.
09:00He did use both of his arms to just
09:03completely push Hachimoussa to the ground.
09:06He was beaten.
09:09Ballon have the pedigree to score from a header.
09:13Oh, that was Augustin Dragpé who was measuring that header.
09:19Munich specifically lifts the ball into the box, and it's going to bounce.
09:25Straight into Melvin Mastille's six-yard box.
09:28And the Lausanne Sport goalkeeper collects that may be his first intervention.
09:36A few seconds to reposition himself.
09:39It's at the near post.
09:42He may have been going directly in if there was no player at the near post.
09:47Abada crosses it in.
09:50Other calls for penalty.
09:52Pierre Hachot hesitated.
09:53That's a third call.
09:55Oh, nice drop of the shoulder from Dermann.
09:59Denki tries to round Melvin Mastille, but he saw it all.
10:04And he acted superbly well, Melvin Mastille.
10:08Barely put a foot in the wrong spot, Ashraf Abada.
10:11Oh, that's an amazing header.
10:13Amazing cross for the header, excuse me, for Amin Guiri.
10:21He got the slightest of deflections to it.
10:25But what makes that header so dangerous is that it bounces on the surface.
10:29And that's where it could pick up speed against one of Togo.
10:35Just a lack of presence.
10:39And that's halftime.
10:40Pierre Hachot blows his whistle.
10:42Algeria had some quality chances.
10:44Open the scoring against a very compact Togo side.
10:48But it wasn't abundant.
10:50Togo standing toe-to-toe with their hosts here at the stud,
10:58Ossine Aida Ahmed.
10:59It's been entertaining.
11:01It's been trying.
11:02Also incredibly physical.
11:05They'll have to wear them down.
11:06But in terms of physical preparation, Togo.
11:11Are a formidable challenge.
11:16Much of the play.
11:18Kevin Denki was found behind the back.
11:21Oh, scuff shot.
11:23Almost.
11:27Algeria have won a corner kick.
11:29It's going to be the left foot of Anis Hadj Moussa to try and find a teammate in the box.
11:38Headed right back to where it came from.
11:41Hadj Moussa.
11:43Slalom.
11:44Ben Taleb with some skill.
11:46The supporters love that.
11:48Hadj Moussa wanted it.
11:52Amin Guiri was fouled as he was attempting to play his teammate through.
12:05The Olympique de Marseille forward who's through Dermann trying to carve their way through.
12:12Denki to Najombé.
12:14His shot is on target.
12:16It stings the gloves of Moussa.
12:19Najombé is going to have a second bite of the apple.
12:21This time he's going to go for a cross.
12:23Hovering around.
12:25Picking and prodding.
12:27Moussa.
12:28Oh, this is beautiful football.
12:30But can it be efficient?
12:32Moussa's left footed shot is mishit.
12:39His body position was all wrong, but look at the way it was
12:46bobbling.
12:47Can't look at the replay, but Zipani might have been in an offside position.
12:50And then it's an astute use of the heel by Guiri to play Moussa.
12:5922 years of age and full of running and industry.
13:05Laba won his header at the near post.
13:08Couldn't redirect it on target.
13:13This time Ashraf Abada was late to contest.
13:19At best, he may have thrown Laba a bit off balance, but
13:26he could have done better there.
13:28Togo's number nine.
13:30Oh, that's a spill.
13:33Guiri doesn't capitalize on the
13:38the mistake.
13:39He's going to get back up.
13:41Najombé crosses it towards Denki.
13:43Massil gets in the way and it's Adaba.
13:51Abdedion as well.
13:52Guiri.
13:55Looking for Maza.
14:05Abada every time he wins a tackle, every time he wins a challenge, it's
14:09accompanied by a roar now.
14:13They're loving the defensive masterclass of Ashraf Abada.
14:21Abada.
14:22Well, for all aspiring defenders,
14:25Abada's performance tonight is to be shown to score.
14:35Unsurprisingly, Jini Dakunam heads it away.
14:39Hadj Moussa.
14:41That's a great delivery.
14:43Benzebaini delivers the goods, finally for Algeria.
14:52Jubilation at the Sato Sinai Damed.
14:56They waited 76 minutes and it's their captain
15:00Benzebaini, who scores his eighth goal for country.
15:06This one vital to the qualification hopes for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
15:18Benzebaini, who would have thought it would have been from a delivery?
15:22He goes airbound at the back post.
15:26Climbs above the rest, soaring high.
15:31And then sends the ball right back to where it came from.
15:35Just nestling inside that far post.
15:40Malcolm Barcuda.
15:44Rooted to his feet, really.
15:49And the Borussia Dortmund defender.
15:53Who shifted wide tonight.
15:58Benaz is going to show a clean pair of heels.
16:02Place of Group I, clear of Zambia.
16:07This could be the second goal if Abdelhi can finish.
16:12Let's see.
16:16It's all a little bit scrappy.
16:20Renvin Mastil dove to his left.
16:24He wasn't completely confident.
16:36The group was still very tightly contested, but Algeria
16:40being the only victors on match day three in Group B.
16:46The main beneficiaries, unless they could be equalized so late on.
16:54Togolese players have their heads in their hands.
16:58Kojo Fodolaba.
17:01Could have had the final laugh.
17:09Well, short, shortness of breath, certainly.
17:13And of all players, it's Ashraf Abada who could have.
17:18Togol almost executing the perfect blueprint.
17:22Resisting, absorbing pressure for 90 minutes and scoring with virtually one of the last kicks of the game.
17:31It would have been what you call a holdup.
17:34Oh, this could be it as well.
17:35Dermann is through.
17:37But it's Adaba.
17:38Abada, excuse me.
17:41Abada.
17:48Heroic in this match.
17:53It was Pierre Najombé.
17:58Went to ground so quickly.
18:02This could be the second goal to put an end to this game.
18:07Snatched that by Benaysa.
18:09That's the final whistle.
18:11Algeria prevailed at home against Togo, who were valiant.
18:16Tough to break down.
18:18But eventually, Rami Bensebaeni delivered at the 76 minutes.
18:22The captain, who filled in at left back with all the absences, rose to the occasion as he did in
18:29the air.
18:30His header looping over Malcolm Barcola, who was a formidable wall.
18:35The final whistle.
18:38I'm Tom Barcola.
18:38Th Squ Bit.
18:39Tricky miz.
18:41Th güzel.
18:43Th���skagt.
18:45ThLe nariz.
