Zambia effectively ended Algeria’s 2018 World Cup hopes, with a stunning 1-0 win over the Desert Warriors at the Stade Mohamed-Hamlaoui in Constantine on Tuesday night.
The hosts looked defeated before the game even kicked off, in a match that African Footballer of the Year Riyad Mahrez squandered a penalty and Islam Slimani missed a sitter towards the end.
But what are the five things we learnt from the game?
1. The win was historic for Zambia, who achieved their first away victory in Algeria from three previous visits there in exactly 40 years.
2. It also saw Chipolopolo extend its unbeaten run under Wedson Nyirenda, as he marks his first year in charge this month.
3. Zambia rose to 7 points, three behind Nigeria who they face on October 7, in a penultimate Group B match that will decide their destiny on the road to Russia.
4. If Zambia want to qualify for the World Cup, they must beat the Super Eagles in Nigeria and then defeat Cameroon in Lusaka in their final game.
5. Algeria and Cameroon are out of the race on one and three points respectively, with two games left to play.
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