Ivory Coast threw title holder Algeria out of the Africa Cup on Thursday. Partly thanks to header goals from PSV player Ibrahim Sangaré and Ajax player Sébastien Haller, les Éléphants convincing from the team of eye-catcher Riyad Mahrez, who himself missed a penalty: 3-1. Algeria were one of the big favorites for tournament wins, but are out of the tournament with one point from three matches. Equatorial Guinea claimed second place in Group E behind Ivory Coast by beating Sierra Leonne: 0-1. The latter country has two points too little to continue as number three and is eliminated. The Comoros, the number three in group C, are therefore now certain of the eighth finals.
Ivory Coast – Algeria 3-1
With Sangaré on the side of Ivory Coast and FC Twente player Ramiz Zerrouki with Algeria, two midfielders from the Eredivisie started the kick-off. Ivory Coast took the lead after twenty minutes, when Nicolas Pépé broke through on the right flank into the penalty area. The Arsenal attacker’s pass was alertly typed by Franck Kessié: 1-0. Six minutes before half time, Sangaré doubled the lead by heading in a free kick by Serge Aurier: 2-0.
SANGARE! ?? Ibrahim Sangaré doubles the lead for Ivory Coast ?#AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/zCfjn4OXa8
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) January 20, 2022
Algeria needed at least a point to have a chance of surviving the group stage, but got the lid on the nose again shortly after the break. Pépé dribbled in from the right with a lot of threat and found the far corner in the penalty area: 3-0. Algeria was given the last straw with an easily given penalty, but star player Riyad Mahrez placed it on the post. Algeria made it 3-1 in the 73rd minute via a header from very close range from Sofiane Bendebka. Sébastien Haller seemed to head in the 4-1 in injury time, but was called back due to offside.
Sierra Leone – Equatorial Guinea 0-1
Both teams knew at the start that a win in their own game would put them in second place in the group. Equatorial Guinea was the dominant side and also took the lead just before half-time. Pablo Ganet received the ball eighteen meters from the goal and placed it hard inside with the inside foot: 0-1. Issa Kallon of SC Cambuur came in fifteen minutes before time for Sierra Leone, which could have equalized ten minutes later via a penalty. Kei Kamara, however, missed from eleven meters.
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