Algeria exacts revenge to extend winning AFCON run
Algeria kept up its winning run at the Africa Cup of Nations finals, making it three out of three in Group E as it beat Equatorial Guinea 3-1 to affirm its status among the tournament favourites.
Goals in the first half from Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza saw a second-string side register a comfortable victory at Stade Moula El Hassan, with veteran Emilio Nsue pulling one back for Equatorial Guinea after the break.
Algeria was already confirmed as the Group E winner after beating Burkina Faso at the weekend to set up a Round of 16 clash with Democratic Republic of Congo, enabling it to make nine changes for this game.
In spite of key players rested, the depth at Algeria’s disposal looked impressive as Belaid had it ahead in the 18th minute with a glancing header from Anis Hadj Moussa’s corner.
Maza was the provider six minutes later with a pass from deep to Chaibi who cut inside and rifled home from close range.
The 20-year-old Maza netted Algeria’s third in the 32nd minute to popular acclaim as he got a head to Hadj Moussa’s cross.
Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Jesus Owono made a superb stop on the stroke of half-time to deny Moncef Bakrar and then a minute later another difficult save at the base of the post.
The 36-year-old Nsue, who had been top scorer at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast two years ago, scored from long range in the 50th minute to pull one goal back for Equatorial Guinea. It finished last in the group without any points, unable to reprise its giant-killing heroics of the previous tournament.
Equatorial Guinea was without three suspended players – Basilio Ndong after a red card in its first game and Carlos Akapo and Josete Miranda banned for swearing at the referee after the previous outing.
This result helped expunge a bitter memory for Algeria, which as defending champion at the 2021 edition in Cameroon had suffered a shock loss to Equatorial Guinea and went on to finish last in its group.
Burkina Faso secured second place in the group at the same time by beating Sudan 2-0 in Casablanca. Sudan also advanced to the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
