2019 AFCON champions Algeria were sent packing out of this year’s edition with a 1-0 loss to Mauritania in their deciding Group D match at Stade Bouake on Tuesday evening.
This means Mauritania sneak into the last 16 round as one of the third best side while it’s the second time in two successive AFCONs that Algeria exit at the group stage.
Algeria finished bottom of the group with just two points behind Mauritania with three. Angola defeated Burkina Faso 2-0 in the other group decider and qualified top of the group with seven points and Burkina Faso second with four points.
The Desert Foxes wasted chances to break the deadlock in the opening 10 minutes after Baghdad Bounedjah was fouled. Mohamed Ounas stepped up for a free-kick and his shot forced the goalkeeper to come out and punch away.
In the 14th minute the Algerian defense was caught napping leaving Anne Souleymane to take an unsuccessful shot. Then it was Ounas again in the 18th minute from the right and keeper punched away for a corner which wasn’t fruitful for the North African side.
Houssem Aouar had a chance too but it was aslo wasted. Then seven minutes after the half hour mark Souleymane had a shot stopped by Anthony Mandrea which led to a corner and it was the second ball from that corner which Mohammed Dellah Yally slotted home to give Mauritania the lead.
Riyad Mahrez was introduced in the second half replacing Aouar and his inclusion seemed to rejuvenate Algeria as they almost got an equaliser through Bounedjah early in the stanza.
But it was Mauritania who a better chance at goal. They won a corner three minutes into the half and Yaly could have grabbed a second with a header but Mandrea palmed it away.
Aboubakary Koita had another chance soon after to double the Lions of Chiguetti’s lead by his shot went high.
Algeria could have levelled just before the hour mark through Icham Boudaoui from a Mahrez free-kick but were denied by the keeper.
In the end it was Mauritania with threatening shots on targets but Mandrea managed to keep the score-line respectable.
