DOUALA, Cameroon – Defending champion Algeria lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea in one of the biggest-ever upsets at the African Cup of Nations to cap a day full of shock results after Sierra Leone capitalized on a terrible goalkeeper error deep in injury time for a 2-2 draw against two-time champion Côte d’Ivoire in the other Group E game.
Côte d’Ivoire remained top of the Group with four points, while Sierra Leone is second on two points. Algeria, after being surprisingly held 0-0 by Sierra Leone in its first game, is bottom of Group E going into a final group game against former champion Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday.
Equatorial Guinea beats Algeria
Esteban Obiang scored twenty minutes from time to give Equatorial Guinea a memorable 1-0 victory over Algeria in Douala Sunday.
Obiang guided his effort past Rais Mbolhi to beat the defending champions and in the process end their impressive 35 match unbeaten run.
The Nzalang Nacional came into the match following their narrow defeat to Côte d’Ivoire and they battle with the highly fancied Algerians.
Goalkeeper Owono Ngua had to be at his best to keep out the Desert Foxes who brought in Slimani and Brahimi as they look to rescue their unbeaten run.
The Desert Foxes came into the match on the back of their goalless stalemate against Sierra Leone in the first match.
Amir Selmane Rami Bensebaini blasted a free kick over the Equatorial Guinea goal with ten minutes on the clock as they push for the breakthrough at the Japoma stadium in Douala.
The reigning champions continue to push the resilient Nzalang Nacional who remained solid in defense.
Youcef Belaili picked out Riyad Mahrez at the post with a clean diagonal pass over the top, Riyad fired across goal but Nzalang Nacional cleared their lines.
The Desert Foxes missed two great changes midway through the first half, Owono saved from Belaili before blocking Baghdad Bounedjah’s close range effort.
Algeria had the ball in the Equatorial Guinea goal but Bounedjah was flagged offside.
The second half saw a much more open contest with both teams playing with a bit higher. Four minutes into the second period Mbolhi denied Luis Asue following a clever first time pass by man of the match Jose Machin. Bensebaini placed a deep cross into the area, Belaili headed across goal only for Fernandez to clear over the line.
Belmadi’s side continue to create chances but they were hit a blow when Equatorial Guinea broke the deadlock on 70 minutes.
Obiang was on hand at the back post to guide home his before beyond Mbolhi and give his country a famous victory against Algeria.
The victory hands the Nzalang Nacional their first win of the AFCON 2021 while Algeria have a solitary point after two matches.
Sierra Leone holds Côte d’Ivoire
Sierra Leone showed character and determination as they fought back to hold Côte d’Ivoire 2-2 in a Group E match played this evening at the on-going AFCON 2021.
The Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire were only two minutes away from bagging maximum points, but the Leone Stars capitalized on goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare’s error and made it 2-2 through substitute Alhaji Kamara at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon.
It was a tense moment for Côte d’Ivoire in added time as their skipper Serge Aurier was forced to go in goal after goalkeeper Sangare was carried off injured.
Coach Patrice Beaumelle’s team started on a high attacking in numbers, but the Sierra leone defenders stood firm.
After 10 minutes the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire earned a penalty after Wilfried Zaha was knocked down in the box by defender Osma Konate. But the Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Nbalie Kamara was up to the task when he reacted well to stop Franck Yannick Kessie’s spot kick placed in the bottom right corner.
Defender Steven Caulker continued to command the Sierra Leone back line well as they stopped the Elephants attacks. After 22 minutes Sebastien Romain Teddy Haller made it 1-0 for Côte d’Ivoire. He received a neat defensive splitting pass from Zaha and made no mistake finding the net.
The Sierra Leone goalkeeper was again called to punch away N’Clomande Ghislain Konan’s shot after 33 minutes. Mohamed Buya Turay had a good chance after 38 minutes for Sierra Leone, but the Elephants’ goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare was up to the task with a well timed block.
After recess the 1992 and 2015 AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire intensified their attacks for more goals, but it was Sierra Leone who leveled matters after 55 minutes. Musa Kamara beat one defender and made no mistake shooting past the Côte d’Ivoire goalkeeper.
The goal motivated the Sierra Leone team as they stepped up in attack. Turay had his free kick miss the target for Sierra Leone after 58 minutes.
But the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire did not stop attacking and were 2-1 up after 66 minutes after some good inter passing which was eventually set-up by Zaha Nicolas Pepe blasted the ball in the corner.
Côte d’Ivoire continued to attack in numbers, but the Sierra Leone defending line stood firm, clearing and blocking several balls in their territory.
With just one minute of added time to the final whistle Côte d’Ivoire’s goalkeeper Sangare failed to get hold a back pass before Kamara made no mistake sliding it in the net. It was all celebrations for the Sierra Leone team after the final whistle.
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