2026 World Cup Qualifiers Africa: Mohutsiwa Warns Against Algerian Trio!

Botswana international Gape Mohutsiwa (27), a midfielder for ASO Chlef, has warned his teammates about the threat posed by the Algerian attacking trio, consisting of Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Youcef Belaïli (Espérance de Tunis), and Baghdad Bounedjah (Al-Shamal, Qatar). This alert comes ahead of the decisive clash between the two teams as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Mohutsiwa: "Mahrez, Bounedjah, and Belaïli can turn the game around"

In statements relayed by Africa Foot United, Mohutsiwa emphasized the crucial importance of this match, calling it a "six-pointer." He highlighted the challenge his team faces against one of the continent's top nations, determined to maintain its leading position. "It will be an intense confrontation," he predicted.

When asked about the most dangerous Algerian player, Mohutsiwa chose not to single out one name: "Algeria has a very rich squad, with many players playing at a very high level. Any of them can make a difference and cause us problems."

However, he specified: "Personally, I think the greatest threat will come from Riyad Mahrez, one of the continent's best players, as well as Baghdad Bounedjah and Pablo (referring to Belaïli). There is a lot of quality in your team, and we will need to be very vigilant."

A unique match during Ramadan

Asked about the impact of Ramadan fasting on the Algerian team, the Botswana midfielder responded with sportsmanship: "I know that playing during Ramadan will be difficult for the Algerian players. Honestly, I wish it could be different for them, but we don't have the power to change that to restore balance. On our side, we will focus solely on the match to try to secure the victory."

Note that Vladimir Petković's men will face Botswana on March 21, before traveling to Mozambique on March 25, as part of the fifth and sixth days of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Read also >> 2026 World Cup: Algeria's squad list revealed on March 13

Mohamed Rek |

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Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.