AFCON2021: Mahrez Penalty Missed Eliminated Title Holders Algeria For The 8th Time In Group Stage

Elvis Kang

Sports Writer-Mysoccer24.com

HIGHLIGHTS

• Champions Algeria goes homes with a heavy defeat 
• Algeria Makes history with the 8th elimination at group stage 
• Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea to round of 16

Title holders have been eliminated in the first round of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (CAN-2021) after its defeat to Ivory Coast 1-3, in a match counting for the 3rd and last day of group E, played Thursday at Japoma Stadium in Douala

Algeria signed off on their worst Africa Cup of Nations campaign after two years on Thursday, as another comprehensive defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast sealed elimination at the group stage.

The fennec Foxes went into their final game battling Ivory Coast for the second qualifying spot in Group E and knowing they might well need to chase a result in the Ngeme stadium in Limbe

But Ivory Coast barely broke sweat in taking apart Patrice Beaumelle’s men, while the west African side took the necessary three points to send them to the last 16 as top behind Equatorial Guinea.

Algeria, ​​who had only 1 draw, and 2 losses (1 point), stayed in 4th place, one point behind Sierra Leone (2 points, 2 draws, 1 loss) ended their campaign as the worst losers

It is not the first time in Algeria are being Eliminated at the group stages. ​​The two-time African Cup champions witness their 8th elimination in their history

In addition, Algeria suffered a bitter taste of being eliminated from the Afcon group stage as champions after a super performance at the lady edition in Egypt as Mahrez could save his team as a star that he is

The Elephant, who had already secured a place in the round of 16 with 4 points in two games and a draw was enough to seal the deal

Ivory Coast took the lead in the 22nd minute with a Nicolas Pepe cross followed by a Frank Kessie clinical finish to put the elephant in front

Seventeen minutes later, Ibrahim scored an extra goal with a surprise shot to give the Ivory Coast added advantage

HALFTIME

IVORY COAST 2️⃣ – 0️⃣ ALGERIA

The second half started with a lot of dramatic football as Algeria open play to get for an early equalizer

Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe then finished with a left-footed non-stop shot from close range handed over by Ajax forward Sebastien Haller from the left in the 9th minute of the second half, adding to the 3-0 victory.

The Algeria had an opportunity to get back into the game at the 60th but Mahrez could not replicate his firm as a Manchester City winger and missed from a penalty spot with his shot hitting the woodwork

Substitute Sofiane Bandebka pull one back for the Algerian at 73rd minutes with a classified as from Aissa Mandi

At 90+3 minutes the Ajax top scorer Sebastien Haller made it four for Ivory Coast but his goal was checked by VAR and called-off

The result in Douala ensured that the Ivory Coast Finished top at the group with 7 points and Equatorial Guinea ended the group stage with 6 points. Sierra Leone with 2 point and Algeria with just one point

FULLTIME

IVORY COAST 3️⃣ – 1️⃣ ALGERIA

MAN OF THE MATCH