Algeria cruise past Djibouti in their first World Cup qualifier by eight goals to nil, Islam Slimani scored half of the goals and is now a goal away from being joint top goal scorer.

Djamel Belmadi started with a strong team, just three changes from the team that started in the AFCON final two years ago.

And it didn’t take long for Algeria to take the lead courtesy of a Slimani trademark header after a brilliant delivery from the captain Riyad Mahrez.

Things started to get worse for the visitors after 22 minutes when a Djibouti blocked a shot on goal with his hand. The Lyon striker Slimani stepped up to double the Desert Foxes lead.

A third followed just five minutes after from Borussia Mönchengladbach full-back Ramy Bensebaini who drilled a shot in from a tight angle.

A second penalty was awarded to Algeria on the 38^th Minute after Baghdad Bounedjah was brought down in the box by the keeper, he then stepped up and scored the goal to give Algeria a comfortable four goal lead into half-time.

Slimani then secured his hat-trick just three minutes into the second half, following another assist from Youcef Belaili.

The same partnership were at it again for the sixth goal of the game on 54 minutes, Belaili with a great drive into the box and delivery for Slimani who headed his fourth goal brining him just one goal away from Algeria’s top goal scorer Abdelhafid Tasfaout on 36.

The captain Mahrez then got his goal after trying a few times during the match, it was a typical goal from the Manchester City winger as he wriggled his way into the box and finished it low with his left foot into the far post.

The eighth and last goal was scored in the 69^th minute by Ramiz Zerrouki or FC Twente after smashing his first international goal from just outside the box.

Algeria will now continue their world cup qualification away to Burkina Faso on Tuesday 7 September. The Stallions also won their opening game against Niger by two goals to nil.

Algeria XI:  M’Bolhi, Zeffane, Bensebain,i Mandi, Benlamri(61’Touba), Zerrouki (71’ Zorgane), Bennacer, Belaili(60’Benrahma), Mahrez, Bounedjah(61’ Delort), Slimani