Competitive international debuts for Adil Aouchiche and Soufiane El-Faouzi

Two Schalke players made their competitive senior international debuts on Tuesday afternoon (29/9), with Adil Aouchiche featuring for Algeria and Soufiane El-Faouzi making his first appearance for Morocco in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.

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Soufiane El-Faouzi jogging in training.

Algeria travelled to Burundi for their second game in Group I, but it was the hosts, ranked 142nd in the FIFA world rankings, who made the better start. An own goal from Fares Chaibi (5’) and a Jean Claude Girumugisha strike (12’) put Burundi 2-0 up early on. Mohamed Belloumi pulled one back for Algeria on the half-hour mark before Adil Boulbina levelled after the break to make it 2-2, which was how it finished. Aouchiche was introduced in place of Chaibi shortly after the equaliser (65’).

The draw leaves Algeria top of the group on four points, although the other game on matchday 2 between Togo and Zambia is still to be played. Aouchiche and Algeria are next in action on Tuesday (6/10), when they face Niger in a friendly (21:00 CEST).

Second win for Morocco

Morocco made it two wins from two in Group A of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with a 2-0 victory away to Lesotho. Brahim Diaz gave the visitors the lead just before half-time (45’), before Azzedine Ounahi added a second late on (82’). El-Faouzi then replaced the scorer of Morocco’s second goal in the 84th minute to make his international debut.

Morocco now lead Group A with six points from their opening two games, ahead of Niger and Gabon, who are still to play each other. El-Faouzi could make his second appearance as early as Sunday (4/10), when Morocco host Ghana in a friendly (21:00 CEST).

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