Algeria keep dream alive, Salah out for two games
ALGERIA kept their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hopes alive after coming from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Burkina Faso at the Stade de la Paix yesterday.
The Stallions went into the break a goal to the good after Mohamed Konate opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, but Baghdad Bounedjah quickly hit back for Djamel Belmadi’s side after the restart before Bertrand Traore struck from the penalty spot 19 minutes from time.
However, Bounedjah rescued the Fennec Foxes with a 95th-minute equaliser to take them above Angola into second place in Group D, still point two behind Burkina Faso.
Algeria bossed possession in the first half in sweltering conditions, although Hubert Velud’s side had an early sight at goal when Abdoul Tapsoba steered a weak header at Anthony Mandrea from Adama Guira’s cross in the sixth minute.
Youcef Belaili had the first chance for the North Africans eight minutes later after he ran into space down the left flank and advanced towards the box before unleashing a shot that was pushed away to safety by Herve Koffi.
However, Algeria conceded at the worst possible time when Konate headed home Tapsoba’s clipped ball in the third minute of stoppage time and VAR allowed the goal to stand after the assistant had flagged the striker offside.
They took just five second-half minutes to respond though, with Bounedjah pouncing from close range after Koffi had saved Bentaleb’s initial shot when the ball broke for him from a blocked free-kick.
The Fennec Foxes conceded a penalty when Issa Kabore went down under a poor challenge from Rayan Ait-Nouri inside the box on 66 minutes.
The referee initially waved play on before being instructed to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor by VAR and pointed to the spot.
Traore sent Mandrea the wrong way from 12 yards out to restore the Stallions’ lead in the 71st minute after play had been held up to attend to Kabore, who seemed genuinely hurt by the tackle.
Bounedjah again proved wasteful when he steered a header high and wide at the near post from Amoura’s cross in the 79th minute.
Mohamed Salah
Meanwhile, record seven-time champions Egypt were dealt a major blow on Friday as captain Mohamed Salah was ruled out of two games with a hamstring injury, while holders Senegal and Cape Verde qualified for the last 16.
The Egyptian Football Association confirmed in a statement that Liverpool star Salah would not be able to return for his country unless they reach the quarterfinals at the tournament. The 31-year-old came off late in the first half of the Pharaohs’ 2-2 draw with Ghana on Thursday.
He will, therefore, sit out tomorrow’s final group game against Cape Verde and any last16 tie that would follow.
After drawing their opening two games, Egypt need to beat Cape Verde to be guaranteed to advance in second place in group B.
That would tee up a last-16 tie in San-Pedro on January 28, while they could also potentially qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Salah will, therefore, only feature again at the competition if Egypt make it to a quarterfinal on February 2 or 3.
Senegal, who beat Salah’s Egypt on penalties in the final of the last AFCON, clinched a spot in the next round with one group game to spare thanks to a 3-1 win over Cameroon in
Yamoussoukro. Ismaila Sarr of Marseille put the reigning champions ahead early on and later set up Habib Diallo to make it 2-0.
Jean-Charles Castelletto pulled one back, but Senegal were not to be denied a convincing victory and talisman Sadio Mane put the outcome beyond doubt late on.
Senegal have a maximum six points after two Group C matches, while Cameroon have only one and their hopes of advancing to the last 16 now hang in the balance.
“I remember that in 2017 we lost to Cameroon in the quarterfinals, so during this match we did everything to win,” said Marseille forward Sarr.
Bebe Stunner
Later on in Group C, Guinea, again missing star striker Serhou Guirassy, beat Gambia 1-0 at the same venue thanks to Aguibou Camara’s second-half goal.
The result leaves Guinea second in the section on four points, meaning they need just a draw against Senegal in their next match to guarantee qualification for the last 16, while a victory will see them progress as group winners.
Cameroon and Gambia will meet each other next and can both hope to at least progress as one of the four best third-placed sides.
Earlier, Cape Verde became the first team to qualify for the last 16 thanks to a convincing 3-0 win over Mozambique in Abidjan. — AFP.