Mohamed Salah was held up as Egypt beat Nigeria 1-0 on a superb purpose from Kelechi Iheanacho of their first sport within the African Cup of Nations.
️ : 1-0
Here’s how each the groups saved the thriller going until the tip! I#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 , #ngaegy , @football2gather pic.twitter.com/8HFIAKnXG5
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 11 January 2022
Riyad Mahrez additionally had a tough day as he and his Algerian teammates missed many goalscoring probabilities to defend their title in a shock 0-0 draw with Sierra Leone on Tuesday, their first main in 26 years. taking part in in tournaments.
The outcomes threw some pre-tournament predictions out the window initially of the third day on the African Cup in Cameroon. If there was any crew to be careful for within the match it was Algeria, who’ve been working for 40 video games unbeaten since 2018. And if there was one participant to be careful for, it was Salah, the Premier League’s main scorer, Liverpool, who claims to be the perfect. on the earth now.
️ : 0-0
A goalless however entertaining battle marked by a superb keeper’s efficiency. I #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 , #ALGSLE , @football2gether pic.twitter.com/ljwXt3tuoH
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 11 January 2022
It is perhaps time to rethink a bit.
Although that is the start of the match. The high two groups in every group mechanically progress to the knockout phases and the perfect a part of the match continues to be to be performed.
Pele misplaced a penalty to Guinea-Bissau in a 0–0 draw with Sudan within the final sport of the day. Pele’s full identify is Judilson Mamadu Tunkara Gomes, a midfielder with French membership Monaco.
As Algeria squandered alternative after alternative of their Group E opener in Douala, coach Jamel Belmadi got here out in break up rage. When Algeria turned down their final alternative within the remaining act in damage time, the 2019 African Cup-winning coach fell to his knees and slammed his arms to the bottom.
Sierra Leone is taking part in its first African Cup since 1996. But Algeria discovered no manner forward of Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara, who celebrated the consequence as if it had been a match win. Players from the Sierra Leone squad lastly ran from bench to area to attend the ceremony.
Sierra Leone, the 22-year-old goalkeeper who performs for the East End Lions in Freetown, outperformed Manchester City’s Mahrez and the remainder of Algeria’s highly effective ahead line for under sooner or later.
There had been numerous alternatives in Algeria. Yasin Brahimi made two photographs proper on Kamara in the beginning of the second half. Algerian substitute Sofiane Bendebka couldn’t make his try on course with Kamara on the bottom after making one other save within the 67th minute.
Mahrez was denied when Kamra brilliantly received his fingers by for a low shot that was destined for the underside nook within the remaining 10 minutes.
Algeria surrounded Sierra Leone for a lot of the second half, however Belmadi’s frustration flared up when striker Baghdad Bounezah, another choice, went for the ultimate miss within the arms of a weak and straight Kamara.
Nigeria had been about to be a crew in bother after final month sacking coach Gernot Rohr and putting in Augustine Aguavon as his alternative on an interim foundation. Nigeria are additionally with out high striker Victor Osimhen of Napoli and two different main forwards for the match.
Ihanacho, who has been warming the bench at Leicester in current months, seized his probability towards Egypt within the opening assembly of the match’s two giants to begin Group D. He managed a head go to him and multi functional transfer fired a swift shot within the high proper nook for the winner of Nigeria within the thirtieth minute.
Salah had an actual probability for Egypt late within the sport, however Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye got here out and blocked Salah’s shot together with his left foot.
Aguavoen stated the sport plan was comparatively easy: “Try to keep Salah off the ball and play high-pressure football at the other end.” The different Group D sport between Guinea-Bissau and Sudan ended with a frantic end within the final 10 minutes.
Sudan’s goalkeeper Ali Abu Ashrin scored a late penalty whereas working to problem Steve Ambari and the pair collided. Ashrin had a powerful argument that he would play the ball however Senegalese referee Issa Si didn’t use VAR to check his determination.
Guinea-Bissau’s Pele saved a penalty saved by Ashrin within the 82nd minute and Piketty hit the crossbar with a follow-up shot.
Two minutes later, Ashrin once more ran out of her purpose by snatching at a cross and her protection needed to clear a shot from the road to take her out.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
