Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 9:51 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 21:53

Algeria was considered one of the tournament favorites before the start of the Africa Cup, but will have to pull out all the stops to survive the group stage. On Sunday evening, the North African defending champion lost 0-1 to Equatorial Guinea, meaning Algeria have only collected one point in Group E. The last group match against Ivory Coast must be won to stand a chance of participating in the next round.

Algeria needed a win after the draw in the opening match against Sierra Leone (0-0). Halfway through the first half, the team of national coach Djamel Belmadi had the first serious opportunities to open the score. With a low ball from the right wing, Riyad Mahrez prepared a great opportunity for Youcef Belaili, but goalkeeper Jesús Owono saved with his foot and also parried the rebound. Two minutes later, Owono also turned a header from Mahrez, after which Baghdad Bounedjah rounded off in the second instance. However, because Mahrez was offside, the goal was disallowed.

Equatorial Guinea knocked on the door with a hard and low free kick from Pablo Ganet, to which goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi barely had an answer, and via a powder from Iban Salvador who sailed just wide. In the injury time of the first half, Mahrez failed to use a free kick from just outside the box. Five minutes after the break Luis Nlavo had the opportunity to give Equatorial Guinea the lead, but from a promising position he gave his shot too little power and direction.

The underdog took the lead twenty minutes before the end of the game. A spinning corner from the left was extended by Josete Miranda, after which Esteban Obiang was in the right place at the far post to open the score. Algeria opened the hunt for the equalizer and scored via a hard bang from Belaili, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Despite several perilous moments in the penalty area, Equatorial Guinea held their ground. In Algeria, Ramiz Zerrouki of FC Twente was not included in the match selection; he has been allowed to train again since Friday after a corona infection, but had to settle for a place in the stands.