Ramy Bensebaini header gives Algeria narrow win over Togo

Algeria moved three points clear at the top of their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying group after Ramy Bensebaini secured a 1-0 victory over Togo.

The defender scored the only goal at Hussein Ait Ahmed Stadium on Saturday to take the Desert Warriors to seven points from three matches in Group Nine. Togo remain third on three points.

Zambia are second with four points, while Burundi sit bottom with two, leaving Algeria in control of the group after the opening three rounds.

Algeria started strongly and created the first opportunity in the 12th minute when Anis Hadj Moussa tried his luck from outside the penalty area. His effort lacked power, however, and was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Barkola.

The hosts went close again in the 23rd minute. Mohamed Amine Amoura received the ball inside the six-yard box and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his low shot narrowly went wide of the post.

Togo survived another scare just before half-time when Amin Gouiri met a cross from Nabil Bentaleb in the second minute of added time. His header drifted just past the post, sending the teams into the break level.

Togo threatened to take the lead shortly after the restart. Laba rose to meet a cross in the 58th minute, but his header also missed the target.

Algeria responded immediately through Gouiri, who rounded the goalkeeper before attempting to finish. The Togo defence recovered in time to block the effort and clear the danger for a corner.

The pressure finally paid off in the 76th minute. Hadj Moussa delivered a precise cross into the penalty area and Bensebaini powered a header into the net to put Algeria ahead.

That goal proved decisive, with the result strengthening Algeria’s position before the teams meet again on Tuesday. The Desert Warriors will travel to Lome to face Togo in the fourth round of qualifying.

Algeria will complete their qualifying campaign in March with two matches. They will visit Zambia before hosting Burundi in the final round.

The Desert Warriors have appeared at the Africa Cup of Nations 21 times and have won the competition twice. Their first title came on home soil in 1990, while their second arrived in the 2019 edition in Egypt.

In the previous tournament, hosted by Morocco, Algeria were eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing 2-0 to Nigeria.