Boulbina brace seals Algeria's TotalEnergies CHAN qualification

Algeria booked their place at the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) in style with a commanding 3-0 win over Gambia in Annaba on Friday.

The result secured a 3-0 aggregate victory for the North Africans, who had held the Scorpions to a goalless draw in Bakau in the first leg of the playoff last week.

After a cautious and goalless first half at the Stade du 19 Mai 1956, Algeria came alive in the second period with an explosive attacking display, led by Adil Boulbina and Bouras Akram.

The breakthrough came just 40 seconds after the restart when Abderrahmane Meziane struck a low shot across the goalkeeper to open the scoring.

But it was the introduction of Adil Boulbina, the leading scorer in the Algerian domestic league, that proved decisive.

The 22-year-old forward, who plies his trade with Paradou AC, struck twice in the final 15 minutes, both goals assisted by the excellent Bouras Akram of MC Alger.

Boulbina’s first came in the 76th minute with a clever lob over the onrushing Gambian keeper after timing his run perfectly down the left.

He added his second in stoppage time, finishing coolly from a tight angle to complete the rout and send Algeria into the group stage of the CHAN finals.

Coach Madjid Bougherra’s side were made to work hard in the first leg but were clinical at home, taking full advantage of a vastly improved playing surface compared to the one they faced in Bakau.

With this victory, Algeria joins Uganda, Guinea, and Niger in Group C of the CHAN 2025 finals, to be played in August. They will be joined by either South Africa or Malawi, who face off in the final remaining play-off fixture.

The performance will boost Algeria's hopes of improving on their runner-up finish at the last CHAN edition, especially with Boulbina and Akram developing into a deadly attacking duo.