Algeria stunned as Africa Cup is full of surprises

Defending champions Algeria lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in one of the biggest upsets in Africa Cup of Nations history, as a defender who played in Spain’s fifth tier last year scored a goal to beat Riyad. Mahrez and his team. Superstar teammates.

Esteban Obiang arrived at the back post in the 70th minute to pick up a corner for the Equatorial Guinea winner, ending the African champion’s four-year unbeaten run and shattering his title defence in Cameroon. Algerian fans bow their heads and cry at Douala Jaboma Stadium.

Algeria attacked after a desperate strike against Equatorial Guinea’s goal in the final 10 minutes, but Mahrez and his team couldn’t find a way to get past 20-year-old goalkeeper Jesus Owono. Algeria had two goals ruled out for offside, one in the first half and one in a frantic search for an equalizer.

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After a surprise 0-0 defeat by Sierra Leone in their opening game, Algeria are bottom of Group E in their final group match against former champions Ivory Coast.

Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations seems unlikely to bring any more surprises after a dramatic draw between Sierra Leone and Gambia. Sierra Leone took advantage of a serious stoppage-time goalkeeper error to draw two-time champions Ivory Coast 2-2 in another Group E match.

Gambia draws with Mali

Gambia scored a 90th-minute penalty to draw 1-1 with Mali, putting Gambia at the top of Group F, ahead of former champions Tunisia and Mali, with only one group game remaining.

Both Gambia and Mali were awarded penalties following a VAR check. In the 79th minute, Ibrahima Kone converted for Mali. But Gambia, who hit the post and crossbar with a free-kick earlier, saved a point in the last minute through Moussa Barrow.

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In the other match of the group, Tunisia recovered convincingly from a controversial loss to Mali, beating Mauritania as expected and providing the only match to match expectations. Tunisia won 4-0 to lead 2-0 after eight minutes, with captain Wahbi Khazri scoring two goals in a game that could have drawn more attention any other day.

Formerly known as the continent’s smallest nation, the Gambia are unbeaten in their first two matches in the major tournament, beating Mauritania in the opener. In a disastrous match against Sierra Leone in Ivory Coast, goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare landed awkwardly while trying to take a header from one of his defenders when the ball slipped from his hands, allowing Al Alhaji Kamara equalised in the 93rd minute for Sierra Leone.

Côte d’Ivoire implosion

Sierra Leone is at the African Cup for the first time in 26 years and has now drawn with two heavyweights in Algeria and Ivory Coast, unbeaten in its return to its prime after more than 20 years. With victory just seconds away, Ivory Coast held on to avoid defeat in the final mayhem when Sangare was carried on a stretcher after injuring his own target. Defender Sergio Real had to serve as goalkeeper with one minute remaining as Ivory Coast had used all the substitutes.

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Despite taking control of the late stages and struggling to get themselves into winning positions, Ivory Coast broke out.

AC Milan’s Frank Casey missed a penalty for Ivory Coast in the 12th minute, or rather saw a brilliant save from Sierra Leone goalkeeper Mohamed Kamara, a hero against mighty Algeria.

Ajax striker Sebastian Haller finally gave Ivory Coast the lead on the 25th hole.

But Mousakamara equalized for Sierra Leone in the 55th game and Ivory Coast had to fight again. Nicolas Pépé seemed to have won the game with his smooth goal, but it was Sangare’s error that ultimately changed that.

If Côte d’Ivoire had insisted on winning, it would have advanced to the knockout stages. It still leads the group but must now face Algeria in their final group game, their fates hanging in the balance and they all hope to win in the group stage.

Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire aren’t the only powerhouses to struggle ahead of their final group game, which begins on Monday, after the first week of the African Cup. Four-time champions Ghana are not even one of the best third-place teams at the moment, and Tunisia is not guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds. Senegal and Egypt also have work to do to ensure Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are not on Cameroon’s early planes.