Algeria on Monday crashed
out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage after failing to win a
single game in Gabon.
The Fennecs of Algeria were held to a 2-2 draw by Group B winners, Terranga Lions of Senegal in a match they had to win to have any chance of avoiding an embarrassing early exit.
Islam Slimani scored both
their goals, a two-yard volley and a scuffed effort that wrong-footed Algeria’s
goalkeeper.
But Senegal twice
equalised, with Papakouly Diop and then Moussa Sow both firing in efforts from
the edge of the area.
Algeria went into the
tournament as one of the favourites for the trophy but left with their
reputation damaged by three under par performances.
After being held to a shock
draw by Zimbabwe in their opener and then beaten by neighbours Tunisia, who
booked their quarter-finals with a 4-2 win over Zimbabwe on Monday also, Algeria
have had a tournament not to forget.
Their misery was compounded
at the last group game by the fact they were held by Senegal’s second-string
side, which featured 10 changes from their last game.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse
had taken the opportunity to rest his first-choice players given the Teranga
Lions had already won the group ahead of their final fixture.
And Cisse will be pleased
by the resilience of his reserves who fought back to hold their own against a
full-strength Algeria and ensure Senegal ended the group stage unbeaten.
Algeria might have signed
off with a win but Slimani missed a chance to grab his hat-trick and a modicum
of consolation when he shot wide.
Senegal will play Cameroon
in the quarter-finals on Saturday. (NAN)
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