Algeria began their quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 3-1 home win over Somalia at the Stade Nelson Mandela on November 17, 2023. The Desert Foxes, one of Africa's football powerhouses, were expected to dominate and delivered a professional performance to claim all three points in Group G. Algeria opened the scoring inside the first twenty minutes, applying sustained pressure on the Somali defense. They doubled their lead before the interval, seemingly putting the match to bed. Somalia, to their credit, pulled a goal back in the second half to create a brief moment of tension, but Algeria quickly reasserted their authority and sealed the victory with a third goal. The win establishes Algeria as early favorites in their qualification group, while Somalia's spirited display offered some positive signs despite the defeat.