AFC Bournemouth Jordan Zemura was given his debut by Zimbabwe, who also featured Baroka FC goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze and Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat.

Billiat was out blazing in the opening minutes when he had Algerian goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi producing a smart outstretched save at the near side from a point-blank effort.

Algeria battled to get going soon thereafter with Zimbabwe narrowly missing the breakthrough from the head of Tinotenda Kadewere following a free-kick by Billiat.

The Desert Foxes began to show authority as the kings of the continent with halftime nearby and had the Warriors on the edge with a free-kick from Baghdad Bounedjah, but the wall managed.

Bounedjah put the hosts ahead on 33 minutes after reacting first to a spill from Chipezeze following a rasping drive by Sofiane Feghouli for an easy tap-in.

Algeria doubled the lead five minutes before halftime when Feghouli reversed roles to send a thumping header past Chipezeze from a cross by Riyad Mahrez.

Kadewere came close to cutting the deficit in half ten minutes from the halftime interval, but was met with a wayward strike following a heavy first touch.

The Desert Foxes compounded the Warriors woes towards the final 20 minutes after Mahrez handled two challenges for a smart finish.

SuperSport United’s Kudakwashe Mahachi and Tafadzwa Rusike were thrown into the mix by the Warriors from the bench a minute later in favour of Ovidy Karuru and Jordan Zemura.

Zimbabwe did bag a consolation goal with ten minutes to go when Kadewere latched onto a smart ball for an audacious chip from close-range, as it finished 3-1 to Algeria.

Kick-off