Holders Algeria knocked out of Cup of Nations after Ivory Coast defeat
20 January 2022 - 20:23
by NICK SAID
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Ivory Coast's Nicolas Pepe celebrates scoring their second goal in their Africa Cup of Nations match against Sierra Leone at Stade de Japoma in Douala, Cameroon on January 16 2022. Picture: REUTERS/THAIER AL-SUDANI
Nicolas Pepe scored a superb solo goal as Ivory Coast thumped Algeria 3-1 to send the defending champions crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday after a disastrous Group E campaign.
Algeria’s 35-game unbeaten run was ended by Equatorial Guinea in a stunning upset in their last match, and they were outplayed again by the impressive Ivorians.
Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare also scored to seal top spot in the pool with seven points. They are joined in the second round by Equatorial Guinea (six points), whose 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone eliminated the latter.
Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty for Algeria, but Sofiane Bendebka grabbed a consolation as history repeated itself.
When they won their only other Cup of Nations title in 1990, Algeria also exited in the first round of the next tournament after a 3-0 loss to the Ivorians, who went on to lift the trophy.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Holders Algeria knocked out of Cup of Nations after Ivory Coast defeat
Nicolas Pepe scored a superb solo goal as Ivory Coast thumped Algeria 3-1 to send the defending champions crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday after a disastrous Group E campaign.
Algeria’s 35-game unbeaten run was ended by Equatorial Guinea in a stunning upset in their last match, and they were outplayed again by the impressive Ivorians.
Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare also scored to seal top spot in the pool with seven points. They are joined in the second round by Equatorial Guinea (six points), whose 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone eliminated the latter.
Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty for Algeria, but Sofiane Bendebka grabbed a consolation as history repeated itself.
When they won their only other Cup of Nations title in 1990, Algeria also exited in the first round of the next tournament after a 3-0 loss to the Ivorians, who went on to lift the trophy.
Reuters
Safa works on high-profile European friendlies for Bafana
Mkhanyiseli Siwahla recalls training with Messi at Barcelona juniors
Play like Brentford did, Rangnick tells United
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Euros heart scare fails to deter Eriksen from joining Brentford
Safa works on high-profile European friendlies for Bafana
New York Times questions why Fifa ignored Mosimane’s success
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.