AFCON Daily: Cameroon through with last gasp winner; 2019 winners, Algeria, sent packing after shock defeat to Mauritania
In this AFCON Daily we’ve got match reports from the four scintillating final games from Groups C and D played on January 23rd. We’ll also take a closer look at the four Group E and F games happening tonight.
Senegal cruised confidently into the knockout stage with their win over Guinea, while it took a last gasp winner over Gambia for Cameroon to earn the second spot in Group C and ensure their ticket forward. Angola take a 2-0 lead over Group D runners-up Burkina Faso into the next round. And in another wild AFCON twist, Mauritania beat Algeria 1-0 to send the 2019 winners home and await their fate as the third-place finishers in Group D.
Guinea 0–2 Senegal
Senegal maintained their perfect start to AFCON 2023 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Guinea.
In a tense and tight affair in Yamoussoukro, Senegal managed to score with their only two shots on target with Abdoulaye Seck and Iliman Ndiaye getting on the scoresheet in the second half.
Despite their defeat, Guinea will also advance to the next round as they possess one of the best records of the third-placed teams.
Seck grabbed the first goal for the defending champions on 61 minutes, when he met a Krépin Diatta cross at the back post to get his first goal of the tournament.
Marseille forward Ndiaye wrapped up the the game on the 90th minute, after he was put through on goal by Sadio Mane.
This result means that Senegal are the only team to win all three of their group stage games at AFCON 2023, with Guinea also progressing to the knockout round.
Ed Dowling
Gambia 2–3 Cameroon
Five-time champions Cameroon booked their place in the knockout stages with a dramatic 3-2 win against Gambia at the Stade de la Paix.
Christopher Wooh’s 91st-minute header secured the Indomitable Lions second place in Group C, who now face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Round of 16 on 27th January 2023 (20:00 GMT).
Gambia finished bottom of Group C but gave a good account of themselves in what was only their second-ever appearance at AFCON.
The action-packed affair sparked to life in the second half after Georges-Kévin Nkoudou’s half-volley lashed off the crossbar in the 50th minute.
Cameroon led five minutes later after Karl Toko-Ekambi guided Nkoudou’s in-swinging cross into Baboucarr Gaye’s net.
The Scorpions fired back in the 72nd minute with their first goal of the tournament, after Ablie Jallow calmly slotted away Alieu Fadera’s ball into the bottom-right corner.
Cameroon then cannoned another off the crossbar, this time through Toko-Ekambi after good link-up play with Enzo Tchato, before Ebrima Colley gave the Scorpions an 85th-minute lead almost instantly after coming on.
The Indomitable Lions leveled in the 87th minute after Tchato’s cross was diverted into the Gambian net by James Gomez, and Wooh completed the Cameroonian comeback in the 91st minute, towering above all and heading in Nkoudou’s corner.
There was time for one last twist as Muhammed Sanneh looked to have grabbed Gambia an equaliser from a 93rd-minute corner, but a VAR check confirmed he handled the ball into the net.
Emile Nuh
Angola 2–0 Burkina Faso
Angola broke the deadlock in the 36th minute as Mabululu scored his second goal of the tournament, before clinching their victory in stoppage time to make it 2-0. Angola and Burkina Faso went into this game already having secured their places in the round of 16. But, Angola’s win means they finish top of Group D and Burkina Faso as group runners-up.
Angola broke down the Burkina Faso defence with their first shot on target. The opening goal came from a Fredy set-piece into the box that Mabululu headed home.
Zini scores a rebound to put Algora top of Group D as it stands! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/bfcw6Mp0Z3
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 23, 2024
Burkina Faso looked more determined and created more chances after the restart, but they could not find the back of the net. They finished the match with a whopping 20 shots, but only three on target. Angola made the most of their chances and ended the game with six shots – five of which were on target.
A somewhat tame affair ended in dramatic fashion as Angola’s keeper, Neblú, was lucky to only receive a yellow in the 88th minute as he swatted the ball away outside of the 18-yard box.
Angola then secured victory and the top spot in Group D after Burkina Faso’s keeper, Hervé Koffi, pushed a save directly into Zini’s feet. The substitute made no mistake as he tapped it in to make it 2-0 in 90+2’.
Angola will face the third-place finishers from Group B, E, or F on 27 January, while Burkina Faso will line-up against Group E winners on 30 January.
Julia Andersen
Mauritania 1–0 Algeria
Despite several changes to the starting lineup, The Desert Warriors aimed for victory against the Lions of Chinguetti in the third group stage match of the Africa Cup of Nations to secure a spot in the knockout stage. However, the match’s outcome didn’t go as expected.
Despite Algeria’s dominance in the first half, Mauritanian goalkeeper Babacar Niass saved numerous goal scoring chances before Mohamed Dellahi Yaly scored the opening goal in the 37th minute. The first half ended with the Mauritanian national team leading 1-0
In the second half, coach Djamel Belmadi made several changes, including bringing in Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez, and Youssef Belaïli, with the hopes to score the much needed goal for qualification and adding more opportunities for the Algerian team to get on level terms.
On the other hand, the coach of the Mauritanian national team relied on counter-attacks.
Kueta came close to adding a second goal for Mauritania early in the second half. He maneuvered through the Algerian defense, found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his shot went over the crossbar.
Algeria concludes its Africa Cup of Nations journey in fourth place with two points, experiencing back-to-back group stage exits from the tournament. Meanwhile, Mauritania secures the third position with three points. Angola top the group with seven points, and Burkina Faso claim second with four points.
Mohammad Joseph
What’s on today?
Mali vs Namibia (17:00GMT)
Three points separate top from bottom in Group E, so it is all to play for as we head into the final match day.
Mali sit in pole position with four points after dispatching of South Africa on matchday one and drawing against Tunisia last time out.
With Group F’s winners – expected to be tournament favourites Morocco – awaiting the Group E runners-up in the knockouts, The Eagles will be hoping to secure top spot with a win.
Namibia roared to a first ever AFCON win in their opening game against Tunisia, but they were thrashed by South Africa on matchday two.
Currently on three points, a draw would assure qualification for the Brave Warriors.
A strong Mali side stands in their way so they will hope that talisman Peter Shalulile can find his goalscoring boots after a slow start to the tournament.
Tunisia vs South Africa (17:00GMT)
AFCON stalwarts Tunisia have disappointed thus far, accruing one point across two fixtures.
The Carthage Eagles have progressed to the finals in the four previous AFCONs, but anything other than a win would eliminate them here.
South Africa also made a slow start to Group E, losing 2-0 to Mali, but Bafana are buoyant heading into this one.
Themba Zwane starred in a rip-roaring 4-0 win over rivals Namibia in their previous fixture, meaning Broos’ second-placed side have three points on the board.
A draw is enough to qualify, but a win would further restore their credentials after the disappointment of matchday one.
Morocco vs Zambia (20:00 GMT)
Morocco have been amongst the most impressive sides at the tournament and sit top of Group F ahead of their final fixture.
Qualification is guaranteed for the Atlas Lions, but whether that’s as a first, second, or third-place finisher remains unclear.
Patson Daka’s late header salvaged a point for 10-men Zambia against Tanzania, boosting their hopes of qualifying here.
The Copper Bullets will be without Roderick Kabwe after he was sent off in that game, but they must find a way to either win or draw if they want to progress.
DR Congo vs Tanzania (20:00 GMT)
DR Congo went toe-to-toe with Morocco in their previous fixture and will look to book their place in the knockouts against Tanzania.
Sitting second in Group F, The Leopards are likely to qualify with a draw but will be hoping to win nonetheless.
Silas may hope to gain a place in the starting lineup after his 76th minute equaliser against the Atlas Lions, but Sébastien Desabre may feel he is a more effective option from the bench.
Tanzania were minutes away from a first AFCON win until Daka’s 88th minute header, but they will take encouragement from that performance.
The Taifa Stars may be the underdogs, but these group stages have taught us the perils of writing off such teams.
Jonny Coffey
