Rami Bensebaini scored in the 76th minute to give Algeria a 1-0 win over Togo on Saturday evening at the Hocine Aït Ahmed Stadium, a result that sent Algeria to the top of Group Nine in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The victory gave Algeria 7 points after three rounds, opening a three-point cushion at the summit of the section. Togo, meanwhile, remained in third place on 3 points, leaving the standings tighter for the teams below Algeria but giving the group leaders a clear early advantage.
How the standings changed
The match mattered because it was a direct swing in the Algeria national football team vs Togo national football team standings. Algeria turned a narrow home win into a valuable jump in the table, while Togo left with 3 points after failing to take anything from the trip.
That position gives Algeria control of Group Nine for now, even if the race is still in its early stages. After three rounds, they were pulling clear at the summit, and the next meeting between the teams could further shape the group.
What comes next
Algeria are due to travel to Togo in Lomé next Tuesday for the fourth round of qualifiers. Their final two matches come next March, away at Zambia and at home against Burundi, which means the current cushion could matter later in the campaign.
The bigger picture is simple: Algeria are trying to build toward another Africa Cup of Nations appearance after winning the tournament in 1990 on home soil and again in 2019 in Egypt. Their last campaign ended at the quarter-final stage with a 2-0 loss to Nigeria, so the opening of this qualifying run is an encouraging step in the right direction.
For Togo, the return fixture offers a chance to respond quickly. For Algeria, it is an opportunity to protect their lead and keep the pressure on the rest of Group Nine.
