Douala, Jan. 20 (BNA): Defending champions Algeria were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the group stage on Thursday, losing 3-1 to the at times rampant Ivory Coast side who declared themselves as contenders for the tournament. the address.
The Associated Press said Ivory Coast’s unilateral victory meant Algeria, once again seen as one of the favorites this year, went out without a win after two surprising results earlier in the tournament, which put them at the bottom of Group E.
Algeria needed a win over Ivory Coast to go ahead after drawing with Sierra Leone and then found themselves on the wrong end in one of the biggest upsets in African Cup history when they lost to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
Equatorial Guinea followed up with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Sierra Leone in the other Group E match on Thursday to advance behind group winners Cote d’Ivoire.
And in a big surprise, small Comoros won a place in the playoffs as one of the top third-placed teams after losing to Sierra Leone.
Comoros stunned Ghana 3-2 in Group C on Tuesday to send Ghana, the other defending champion, home in the group stage. Ghana and Algeria finished last in their group.
Algeria did not come close to their heart in the last group game as Ivory Coast advanced 3-0 in Douala through goals by Frank Kessie and Ibrahim Sangari in the first half and Nicolas Pepe in the 54th minute.
Kessié converted a ball in the opening match and Sangaré was completely unremarkable from a free kick to head a ball into the net. The Algerian defenders stood and looked at each other after the goal.
It was Pépé’s high-quality goal as he focused on goal, veered between two defenders, and hit the ball into the left corner.
Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty after 60 minutes to wrap up the miserable Algerian championship. Mahrez beat Ivory Coast goalkeeper Badra Ali Sinjari, but his partial kick hit the post.
Algeria pulled the difference headed by Sofiane Bendibeka. However, this did nothing to soften the blow of the disastrous North African championship.
Sebastien Haller scored an injury-time goal for Ivory Coast that was disallowed for offside after a long delay.
Côte d’Ivoire held its last 16 meeting with Egypt in what appears to be the next round match. Comoros’ reward for their impressive debut in the African Cup was a match with hosts Cameroon in the round of 16.
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