El Arbi Hillel Soudani transferred his predatory instincts from Europe to give Algeria a 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying victory in Lesotho on Sunday.
Soudani struck two during the final six minutes of the clash in Maseru after Lesotho had canceled the Desert Foxes’ lead.
Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam scored after 30 minutes at Setsoto Stadium and Ralekoti Mokhahlane leveled eight minutes later.
However, as Lesotho dreamed of holding a team who are 109 places higher than them in world rankings, Soudani made his presence felt.
He restored the lead for the top-ranked African team with five minutes remaining and scored again at the death.
Algeria, whose lone Cup of Nations title came 25 years ago, top Group J with a maximum six points.
Ethiopia are second with four points, followed by the Seychelles with one and pointless Lesotho.
Only the 13 group winners are guaranteed places at the 2017 tournament in Gabon.
Zambia were another nation to win away as they came from behind in Kenya to triumph 2-1 thanks to a late first-half goal from veteran Collins Mbesuma.
Michael Olunga put Kenya ahead in Nairobi by darting on to a long pass and winning a race for the ball with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
Winston Kalengo equalized with an unstoppable rising shot on the turn, which flew past goalkeeper Arnold Origi from inside the box.
Mbesuma scored from even closer range, firing a low shot into the corner of the net for what proved to be the match-winner, despite a second-half Kenya onslaught.
The Republic of the Congo and Zambia have four points each in Group E, with the Red Devils occupying first place on goal difference. Kenya and Guinea-Bissau have one each. Minnows Swaziland remain Group L leaders, on goals scored from Zimbabwe, after coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Malawi in Lobamba.
Gerald Phiri put Malawi ahead, Felix Badenhorst leveled and Chiukepo Msowoya regained the lead for the visitors before half-time.
Sabele Ndzinisa snatched the second Swaziland equalizer seven minutes into the second half at Somhlolo Stadium.
Zimbabwe also fought back to draw 1-1 against Guinea, who took a second-minute lead in Harare through Idrissa Sylla, with Knowledge Musona equalizing.
Swaziland and Zimbabwe have four points each, with Malawi and Guinea each on one. Mauritius celebrated a rare international victory thanks to Fabien Pithia, whose early second-half goal delivered a 1-0 success over Mozambique.
Ghana are the Group H pacesetters with six points, while Rwanda and Mauritius have three each and Mozambique none.
There were no goals and few chances in the Group B clash between Madagascar and Angola on a poor Antananarivo pitch.
In Sunday’s other Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast drew 0-0, Cameroon edged Gambia 1-0, the Central African Republic defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-0, Libya lost 2-1 to Cape Verde, Benin held Mali 1-1 and Egypt hammered Chad 5-1.
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