Algeria wrapped up preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations with a 4-0 thumping of Burundi at the Stade de Kegue in Togo on Tuesday.
Goals from Baghdad Bounedjah, Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani, and Mohamed Amoura ensured the Desert Warriors won their final friendly match after beating Togo 3-0 last Friday.
Al Sadd forward Bounedjah put Algeria ahead in the first minute, before team captain and former Manchester City winger Mahrez doubled their lead in the 39th minute with a brilliant solo effort.
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#DesertWarriors | #123vivalAlgérie???????? pic.twitter.com/R5R7E6Rkwr— Équipe d’Algérie de football (@LesVerts) January 9, 2024
The Djamel Belmadi-led side got their third goal of the game in the 87th minute through Islam Slimani, who bagged his 47th international goal.
Late in the game, Union Saint-Gilloise winger Amoura completed Algeria’s four-goal rout of the Swallows with a deft finish in the 94th minute.
The two-time AFCON champions, who recently won the continental showpiece in 2019 in Egypt, finished their pre-tournament camp with two wins from two games, scoring seven goals and conceding none.
Algeria are drawn in Group D alongside Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Angola. They will kick off their search for a third AFCON title against the Palancas Negras on Monday, January 15, at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.
Their second game against the Stallions will be played on Saturday, January 20, before facing the Lions of Chinguetti in their final group game on Tuesday, January 23, at Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.
The 2023 AFCON commences in Ivory Coast on Saturday, January 13 and will end on Sunday, February 11, with the final slated to take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe.
