Algeria hit seven as African big guns qualify

Johannesburg (AFP) - Seven-goal Algeria led the way Tuesday as 18 of the top 20-ranked African national teams reached the group stage of 2018 World Cup qualifying. Algeria humiliated Tanzania 7-0 after being held 2-2 away and Egypt scored four goals in 36 minutes to trounce Chad 4-0 in Alexandria following a shock 1-0 first-leg loss. African champions Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa and Morocco are also through to the 20-nation group stage, that starts next October. Cape Verde, Congo Brazzaville, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Uganda, Gabon and non-top 20 teams Burkina Faso and Libya complete the line-up. Only two seeded sides in the 20 home-and-away second round ties played over seven days, Equatorial Guinea and Rwanda, failed to make the cut. Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam and Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani bagged two goals each, including a penalty apiece, as Algeria ran riot in Blida after leading 3-0 at half-...