After a 3-0 triumph over Sudan and a 1-0 success over Burkina Faso, Ait-Nouri’s Algeria made it a hat-trick of wins to top Group E and progress through to face Congo DR in the Round of 16.
That knockout game will take place next Tuesday with a 16:00 (UK) kick-off at the same venue as this match - Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Morocco.
Algeria had confirmed their progress into the next phase before this encounter so coach Vladimir Petkovic made nine changes including resting former City talisman Riyad Mahrez.
That didn’t dampen the attacking intent of the Desert Foxes who called on Feyenoord wide man Anis Hadj Moussa to fill the spot vacated by Mahrez – and the 23-year-old certainly delivered.
Centre-half Zineddine Belaid nodded home the opening goal from Moussa’s corner and the winger also set up the third goal with Ibrahim Maza heading into the net.
Fares Chaibi – causing damage on the opposite flank to Moussa – scored the second for Algeria with a clinical finish high and handsome past Jesus Owono.
All in all, that made it 3-0 at the break at which point Petkovic substituted City’s left-back summer signing as the 24-year-old former Wolves man was replaced by Mehdi Dorval of Serie B side Bari, one of five changes in the second half with one eye on the next phase no doubt.
Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio Nsue found a consolation just after half-time with a driven long-range effort but it wasn’t enough as they finished at the foot of the table with Burkina Faso in second and Sudan in third.
