WORLD CUP QUALIFICATIONS 2022 – Algeria will not go to Qatar. While they had equalized in the 118th minute of extra time and thought they had pocketed their ticket, Djamel Belmadi’s selection was surprised in added time in this second period of extra time by a goal from Karl Toko-Ekambi, an opportunist in the surface (1-2 ap). It’s a blow for the Fennecs.
And suddenly, at the end of the night, the sky fell on the head of Algeria. Cameroon qualified for the 2022 World Cup thanks to Lyonnais Karl Toko-Ekambi, who scored 1-2, at the last minute of extra time. The Indomitable Lions thus won in favor of the goal scored away from home which counts double in the event of a tie, a rule abolished in the Europe zone but still valid in Africa.
It is all the crueler for Algeria that the selection of Belmadi, dominating the whole meeting, had well thought of snatching his ticket for Qatar thanks to Touba, scorer in the 118th minute on a corner. Defeated in the first leg (0-1), Cameroon came back up to Algeria in regulation time thanks to Eric Choupo-Moting (22nd). This success (0-1) allowed Rigobert Song’s men to win the extension in Blida.
BELMADI INCONSOLABLE
The French still curse Kostadinov’s name. It is possible that Karl Toko-Ekambi will leave the same mark in the minds of Algerian fans. By offering the victory to Cameroon in the 124th minute, the OL striker plunged the Mustapha Tchaker stadium into utter disbelief! Algeria, which had voluntarily chosen by superstition this small enclosure rather than the July 5 stadium in Algiers, was defeated for the first time in its history in Blida. Since their debut in “the city of Roses”, the Fennecs have recorded 31 wins and 6 draws. The tears of an inconsolable Djamel Belmadi will not change anything: for the second time in a row, Algeria will not play in the World Cup.
Beyond this last-second claw, Algeria can harbor tons of regrets as there have been so many opportunities. Islam Slimani (1st) and especially Youcef Belaïli (29th) both missed two big opportunities, like Abdelkader Bedrane in extra time. Not to mention the many miraculous saves by goalkeeper André Onana, in particular a mind-blowing reflex on a header from Slimani (105th) and a monstrous flight on a missile from Ismaël Bennacer (111th). The Fennecs can also deplore the ball released by their goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi who had benefited Eric Choupo-Moting, the first scorer of the meeting. The Algerian goalkeeper had however made up for it by saving the country twice consecutively (68th) on one of the rare opposing incursions.
But that was before the last-second twist and Karl-Toko Ekambi’s eleventh national goal. Undoubtedly the most important of his career. To the delight of the new coach Rigobert Song was propelled to this position for this jump-off by his friend and president of the Federation Samuel Eto’o. For the eighth time in its history, Cameroon will be at the World Cup.
