Algeria's World Cup hopes were dealt a major blow after they slumped to a 3-1 loss at Nigeria, who moved four points clear on top of their World Cup qualifying group after Cameroon were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Zambia on Saturday. Chelsea winger Victor Moses put the Super Eagles in front after 26 minutes with a low shot from inside the area after Hicham Belkaroui failed to clear the danger. Another defensive blunder cost Algeria again three minutes before the break when John Obi Mikel doubled the lead in bizarre fashion. The Chelsea out-of-favour midfielder thought he was offside when he was picked out by a through pass. He dithered for a second before realising that he was actually onside, firing low into the net. Algeria, boasting Leicester City's duo Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, were guilty of spurning some clear-cut chances in the first half, with Nabil Bentaleb volleying over the bar with the goal at his mercy and Saphir Taider going close with an angled shot. They pressed hard in the second half and Bentaleb narrowed the gap with a brilliant shot into the top corner seven minutes past the hour mark. Both sides had their fair share of chances but it was Nigeria who were more clinical, with Moses scoring his second of the night in stoppage time after beating the keeper at the near post with a firm shot. Nigeria are in pole position to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia as they lie on top of Group B with six points from two games, four clear of Cameroon who could not beat Zambia at home. Veteran striker Collins Mbesuma gave Zambia the lead with a close-range finish after 34 minutes but Vincent Aboubakar converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime to secure a share of spoils. Zambia and Algeria both have a solitary point, with the latter facing an uphill climb to stay in contention for a World Cup berth. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
