Algeria qualifies to the African Cup of Nations 2017, after thrashing Lesotho 6-0 and finishing their qualifying campaign unbeaten in group J.

It was El Arabi Hillel Soudani who got the first goal of the game for the Desert Foxes, Riyad Mahrez and Saphir Taider went on to score, from free kicks, just before the half hour mark. Soudani then got his brace and that was followed by Riyad Boudebouz scoring from the penalty spot. In the Second half it was Mahrez who scored the only goal of the half ending the match 6-0.

Algeria dominated from minute one and it didn’t take long for the first goal of the match. In the eighth minute Carl Medjani did very well to keep a ball into play and found Soudani, who scored the opener on the half-volley.

Taider nearly doubled the lead with a stunning strike, after the ball fell just outside the Lesotho box.

Mahrez then made the double in the 18th minute, after he scored from a Free-kick just outside the box, following a handball.

Things were just getting better each minute and in 24th minute Taider put another free kick in the back of the net, this time from 30 yards out.

The fourth goal then came for the Dessert Foxes in the 39th minute, this was shortly after Islam Slimani hit the post. It was Soudani scoring his brace, after a great run down the wing from Slimani, the cross then found the head of the top scorer of the AFCON qualifiers.

Boudebouz then scored the fifth from the penalty spot, just before the half time whistle. The penalty was awarded after Mahrez outdone his marksmen and was tripped inside the box.

Milovan Rajevac made his first change at half time, Yacine Brahimi replaced Boudebouz.

In the 53rd minute a corner came in for Slimani, who did very well to beat his man, but his header ended just wide.

Algeria’s Goalkeeper did not have much to do in the first half. However, Lesotho’s second half substitution had a go from the halfway line, making Rais M’bolhi think twice, as didn’t expect it.

Mahrez made it six just before the last quarter of an hour, Soudani from the left wing crossed it into the box and there was the Leicester City man, who took a perfect touch and hit the ball on the half volley into the back of the net.

Arsenal midfielder Ismael Bennacer then came on for Soudani in the 81st minute, making his international debut with Algeria.

Team line XI’s:

Algeria XI: M’Bolhi; Zeffane, Belkaroui, Medjani, Ghoulam; Bentaleb, Taider; Mahrez, Boudebouz, Soudani; Slimani.

Lesotho XI: Moichele, Makepe, Moremoholo, Sello, Tseka, Mohapi, Motloane, Kamela, Barrow, Kalake, Seturumane.