Cameroon draw Algeria 1-1 in their away match of the 2018 World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
Visiting Cameroon came from behind to snatch the vital point off Algeria in their Group B fixture.
Algeria, coached by Serbian Milovan Rajevac, made the opener through striker El Arbi Hillal Soudani in the seventh minute before Benjamin Moukandjo equalized for the Indomitable Lions 17 minutes later.
Earlier in the day, Nigeria managed to secure a precious away win against Zambia 2-1, as the Super Eagles stand on top of Group 8 with three points, followed by Cameroon and Algeria with 1 point each, while Zambia is fourth with no points.
The second round of the Group B campaign is due on Nov. 12, as Nigeria will host Algeria, while Zambia travels to Yaounde to face Cameroon.
The Indomitable Lions responded through captain Benjamin Mounkandjo on 24 minutes with a shot through the legs of Algeria goalie Rais M’Bolhi, after Edgar Salli put him through.
However, Cameroon had goalkeeper Joseph Ondoa to thank for keeping the scoreline intact after Islam Slimani early in the second half and Adlanre Guediora six minutes from time.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles sit at the top of Group B after beating Zambia 2-1 away in Ndola. Cameroon and Algeria follow in that order with a point each with Zambia at the depth with no point.
For Nigeria, Premier League youngsters Alex Iwobi andKelechi Iheanacho made the difference. Both scored in Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Zamiba in CAF World Cup qualification play.
Iwobi struck first with a volley just past the half-hour mark for his first international goal on his seventh cap.
Iheanacho followed with Nigeria’s second just before the halftime break, an impressive solo goal as he rounded the keeper and kept his cool to score past three defenders guarding the goal line. The Manchester City youngster is on absolute fire for his country – the goal against Zambia is Iheanacho’s fourth in six caps for Nigeria, and he has scored in each of his last four caps.Iheanacho’s goal. Intelligent assist by Ideye. Golazo. #ZAMNGA#mancity #manchestercity
Nigeria’s international squad is built of mostly European based players, including some from the Premier League, such as captain John Obi Mikel. Iheanacho played up front against Zambia alongside former West Brom striker Brown Ideye, who now plays for Olympiakos. Nigeria also started goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who starts for Championship club Wolverhampton.
Each at just 20 years old, Iwobi and Iheanacho have secured signifcant roles at Arsenal and Manchester City respectively this season. Iwobi has assisted a pair of goals for the Gunners this season in 291 Premier League minutes, and has created seven chances according to Squawka Statistics. Iheanacho, meanwhile, has scored two goals and assisted two others, including bagging the game-winner in the Manchester derby.
-with online reports
