Africa’s top-ranked nation Algeria clinched their place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday with a 2-0 win in Seychelles. Yassine Benzia and El Arabi Soudani scored in each half to ensure Algeria will win Group J. The group winners and the best two runners-up will qualify for the finals.

The loss for Seychelles means they are unable to win the group and only have a very slim chance of winning a best second-placed spot. The other match in the group sees Lesotho host Ethiopia on Sunday.

Lille’s Benzia scored his first goal for Algeria since swapping national allegiances from France earlier this year. He scored five minutes before half-time as the Seychelles defence failed to deal with a cross and the ball fell at his feet with his back to the goal before swivelling to score. Soudani doubled the score on hour mark when as he got on the end of a free-kick from Ryad Boudebouz.

BBC