AFCON 2021: Côte D’Ivoire send ‘defending champions’ Algeria home

Defending champions, Algeria were shown the exit door after the disastrous 3-1 loss to Côte D’Ivoire in the African Cup of Nations on Thursday.

Algeria will go back a sad team managing only one point from three games with one goal scored in the prestigious tournament.

Riyad Mahrez took a freekick from the edge of the box but Badra Ali Sangare perfectly palmed it away to keep the result intact after three minutes into the game.

Six minutes later, Nicholas Pepe found space in the area but his resultant effort went above the crossbar missing from close range.

In the 22nd minute, Pepe beat his mark but later passed the ball to Frank Kessie who placed the ball in the back of the net.

With six minutes to end the first stanza, Serge Aurier’s well-curled freekick was headed home by Ibrahim Sangare leaving Algeria’s custodian Adi-Rais Mbolhi helpless.

After recess, Ivory Coast locked the hungrier side between the two which clearly proved their intentions in the game.

In the 54th minute, Pepe passed through a forest of bodies before he emphatically curved the ball inside the left post hence giving Ivory Coast bragging rights.

At the top of the hour, Riyad Mahrez found a golden chance to give Algeria a consolation but his penalty kick rattled off the post.

Thirteen minutes later, Aissa Mandi brought back the ball in play to find Sofiane Bendebka who gave Algeria the long waited co solation goal.

At the death of the game, Sebastien Haller sealed the beautiful win with a powerful header into the net.

Côte D’Ivoire is set to face Egypt who finished second in group D.

In the other game, Pablo Ganet sent Equatorial Guinea to the last 16 of the Nations Cup in Cameroon.

About The Author

Gateway News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *