Defending champions Algeria misplaced 1–0 to Equatorial Guinea in one of many largest upsets ever within the African Cup of Nations, with a defender taking part in within the fifth tier in Spain final 12 months, who defeated Riyad Mahrez. and scored the objective by beating his famous person teammates. ,
Esteban Obiang reached the again put up to attach a nook within the seventieth minute for the winner of Equatorial Guinea, ending a four-year unbeaten run for the African champions and leaving their title protection in Cameroon in items.
: 0-1
miraculous outcomes for #TeamEquatorialGuinea Which upsets all potential odds towards title holders Algeria.
#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 , #ALGGNQ , @football2gether pic.twitter.com/VtQjbqxn04— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 17 January 2022
Algerian followers dropped their heads and wept on the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
Algeria launched the assault after an Equatorial Guinea objective within the final 10 minutes, however Mahrez and his workforce couldn’t discover a method to overtake 20-year-old goalkeeper Jess Owono.
Algeria’s two objectives had been disallowed proper offside, one within the first half and one in that frantic seek for an equalizer.
After being held surprisingly 0–0 by Sierra Leone of their first sport, Algeria is backside of Group E, going into the ultimate group sport towards former champions Ivory Coast.
It appeared just like the African Cup could not presumably shock extra on Sunday, when Sierra Leone and The Gambia secured attracts dripping with drama.
: 2-2
Alhaji Kamara scored in Douala as a dramatic equalizer to seal a well-earned level for Lyon Stars
A Quick Recap on How #CIVSLE went down! I#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 , @football2gether pic.twitter.com/8ZCEJDyMPT
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 17 January 2022
Sierra Leone capitalized on a horrible goalkeeper error in harm time for a 2–2 draw towards two-time champions Ivory Coast within the second Group E sport.
: 1-1
2️ Goals from a spot-kick for both sides to separate the respect between the Scorpions and the Eagles ️
recap every part that occurred in #GMBMLI Confrontation! I#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 , @football2gether pic.twitter.com/CsAxmbOePQ
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 16 January 2022
The Gambia transformed a Ninetieth-minute penalty right into a 1–1 draw with Mali, leaving event debutants Gambia on the prime of Group F forward of former champions Tunisia and Mali to play only one extra spherical of the group sport. left.
The Gambia and Mali each scored penalties which had been awarded after VAR checks. Ibrahima Kone scored for Mali within the 79th minute. But The Gambia, who had hit the put up and crossbar with a free kick earlier, saved a degree within the final minute through Moussa Barrow.
: 4-0#Team Tunisia up their first rung #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 Brilliant win towards Mauritania
Revisit the perfect bits from #TUNMRT Encounter! I #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 , @football2gether pic.twitter.com/Gb6erPIreh
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 16 January 2022
In the second sport of that group, Tunisia satisfied Mali from their extremely controversial loss to beat Mauritania as anticipated, and to offer the one sport as anticipated. Tunisia gained 4–0, went 2–0 up after eight minutes, and captain Wahbi Khajri scored a double in a match which will have garnered extra consideration on one other day.
Previously identified for being the smallest nation in mainland Africa, The Gambia are unbeaten of their first two matches in a serious event, having gained towards Mauritania of their opener.
In a disastrous finish for Ivory Coast towards Sierra Leone, goalkeeper Badr Ali Sangare landed awkwardly whereas attempting to gather a header again from certainly one of his defenders, and the ball slipped by way of his fist, leaving Alhaji Kamara to Sierra Leone. Scored within the 93rd minute.
️ No time to blink
Match Day 2️ Absolutely Delivered Last Day
Sunday’s motion outcomes#TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 , #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/hsgvIxzciI
— #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 (@CAF_Online) 16 January 2022
Sierra Leone are making their first look within the African Cup in 26 years and at the moment are drawn towards two heavyweights in Algeria and Ivory Coast to go unbeaten on their return to the large time after greater than 20 years.
Seconds away from victory, Ivory Coast lastly clinging to a defeat within the midst of the chaos when Sangare was taken off a stretcher after injuring himself with a objective. Defender Serge Aurier needed to stand in as goalkeeper for the rest of the minute as Ivory Coast used up all their replacements.
Ivory Coast exploded regardless of attempting so exhausting to regulate the late phases and put themselves in a successful place.
AC Milan’s Franck Casey missed a penalty for Ivory Coast within the twelfth minute, or reasonably, it was brilliantly saved by Sierra Leone’s keeper Mohamed Kamara, the hero of the draw towards mighty Algeria.
Ajax ahead Sebastian Haller ultimately led Ivory Coast in twenty fifth place.
But Musa Kamara broke an equalizer for Sierra Leone into the web within the fifty fifth, and Ivory Coast needed to battle it out once more.
Nicolas Pepe appears to have gained it along with his well-taken objective, solely to get replaced on the finish by Sangre’s fault.
Ivory Coast would have been within the knockout stage if that they had stayed for the win. This leads the group, however will now face Algeria of their closing group sport, with each their fates hanging within the steadiness in a bunch they had been each hoping to cruise by way of.
After the primary week of the African Cup, Algeria and Ivory Coast usually are not the one massive groups anxious forward of the ultimate group video games beginning on Monday.
Four-time champions Ghana at present lack even among the best third-placed groups, and Tunisia isn’t assured a knockout spot. Senegal and Egypt additionally must work to make sure that Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah usually are not on flights from Cameroon early.
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
