A success, but above all a relief. The Algerian football team, eliminated in the group stage of the two previous African Cups of Nations, this time successfully entered the competition, against Sudan (3-0), Wednesday December 24, in Rabat (Morocco). A capital victory for the Fennecs – now at the top of group E –, carried by their captain, Riyad Mahrez, author of a double.
By opening the brand from the 2e minute of play, the ex-Manchester City winger (2018-2023) could not predict the significant drop in pace that would come, throughout the first period. Even the exclusion of Sudanese midfielder Salaheldin Adil (39e), did not allow the Fennecs to increase their lead, frustrated when returning to the locker room. The Algerian wake-up call finally sounded at the hour mark, again through the star striker, finally followed by Ibrahim Maza (85e), whose first goal under the national tunic definitively sealed the victory.
“It’s always good to start the competition wellcommented the 34-year-old winger after the meeting. Scoring is nice; my goal is to help the team win matches. But we will have to raise the level and be more consistent in the game to beat Burkina Faso. » For good reason, the Burkinabés, Algeria’s future opponents, on Sunday December 28, will be their main competitors for first place in the group.
Burkina Faso, miraculous in added time
It was not the most anticipated poster of the day, but the clash between Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea nevertheless offered a spectacular scenario. After a rather dull first period, everything accelerated in the second. First by the – very justified – red card collected by the Equatorial Guinean Basilio Ndong, guilty of a dangerous sole on Bertrand Traoré, shortly before the hour mark.
Twenty minutes later, when Lassina Traoré thought he had opened the scoring for the Burkinabés, his goal was finally flagged for offside. Reduced to ten and dominated in the game, Equatorial Guinea then believed they had achieved their feat through Marvin Anieboh, author of a masterful header from a corner (85th). But the Stallions – the nickname of the Burkinabé selection –, cornered, knew how to flaunt their resources.
In added time, Georgi Minoungou, who came on and was served by Dango Ouattara, equalized with a right-footed shot, giving his teammates some slim hope of success. Thin, but not zero, what Edmond Tapsoba was able to transform by gleaning victory with a furious header in the last seconds of the match.
