KNOCKOUT STAGE
of Aissa Mandi but reversed his decision
on video evidence. It allowed Odion
Ighalo to record a fourth goal of the
tournament by sending Rais Mbohli
the wrong way from the spot.
Mahrez’s winner was Hollywood-style
stuff, blasting in from 20 yards with the
last kick of the match to send Algeria
through to their first Final since 1990.FINAL
For a tournament filled with bizarre goals
it seemed almost fitting that the opening
attack of the Final provided yet another.
After two minutes, Algeria striker
Baghdad Bounedjah’s shot hit the body
of defender Salif Sane, who had been
brought into the side for the suspended
Kalidou Koulibaly. The ball looped up and
then dipped dramatically into the goal
over the bemused head of keeper Alfred
Gomis, who misjudged the back spin and
watched aghast as the ball landed up in
the back of the net.
It was the fastest goal in a Final
since 1980 when Nigeria’s Segun
Odegambi scored in the second
minute against Algeria.
But any hopes this would be just the
start of a roller-coaster game at the Cairo
International Stadium evaporated quickly
into a stop-start, niggly affair as Algeria
tightened up the midfield and frustrated
Senegal’s efforts to play.
Only Youssouf Sabaly on the left
looked likely to penetrate although there
were efforts at goal but off target from
Henri Saivet and Mbaye Niang’.
Cameroonian ref Sidi Alioum pointed
to the spot for a suspected handball by
Adlene Guedioura on the hour mark to
offer Senegal a chance, but reversed his
decision after a VAR review.
Sabaly did force an acrobatic save
from Algeria’s Rais Mboli as Senegal
continued to look stronger in the second
half, but their search proved elusive and,
as their legs tired, it was obvious the
result was slipping away from them.until the end.
They were undone by a bizarre own
goal in extra time as goalkeeper Moez
Hassen came off his line to try to cut
out a free-kick from the right flank but
completely missed the ball, which then
hit Dylan Bronn and flew into the net for
the only goal of the game.
Both teams had a chance to settle the
result in the second half but squandered
penalties, while Tunisia were awarded
another spot-kick after going behind,
only for the decision to be rescinded
after the ref consulted VAR.
Tunisia were handed a penalty in
the 73rd minute as a stinging effort from
Ferjani Sassi was blocked by the elbow
of Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly,
who picked up a caution and was harshly
suspended for the Final.
Sassi hesitated as he stepped up to
take the kick and hit a tame effort right
into keeper Alfred Gomis’ arms.
Three minutes later Ismaila Sarr
was tripped in the Tunisia penalty area
by Yassine Meriah, but when Henri Saivet
hammered a strong shot to the corner
he was denied by a left-handed savefrom Hassen.
The second semi-final was marked
by Mahrez’s stoppage-time free-kick to
earn Algeria a dramatic 2-1 victory to
add a touch of class after an own goal
and another VAR penalty decision.
Algeria went ahead in the 40th minute
through an own goal by William Troost-
Ekong as a cross from Mahrez was
deflected and struck him in the midriff
to trickle back over the Nigeria goalline.
Gambian referee Bakary Gassama
initially dismissed Nigerian penalty
appeals in the 70th minute when
Oghenekaro Etebo’s shot struck the armtriumph over Madagascar. The wheels
came off for Nicolas Dupuis’ journeyman
team after Ferjani Sassi’s deflected shot
went in, followed by goals for Youssef
Msakni and substitute Naim Sliti.
In the other two quarter-finals, all
between past winners, Nigeria beat
South Africa and Algeria edged past
Ivory Coast on penalties.
Nigeria’s victory at the Cairo
International Stadium was their 50th at
the finals but came unwittingly as South
African keeper Ronwen Williams, who
was outstanding in earlier games, missed
in his effort to punch away a corner and
the ball struck William Troost-Ekong on
the knee for an 89th-minute winner.
Nigeria were ahead at half-time but
let South Africa back into the game
after a VAR decision allowed Bongani
Zungu’s headed effort, even though he
was patently offside. It was because the
video showed the ball brushed a Nigerian
head on the way through and therefore
played Zungu onside and proved the
usefulness of the system, even though
coaches did seek to stoke up controversy
when calls did not go their way.
Algeria won 4-3 on penalties after a
1-1 draw with the Ivorians although they
should have settled the game inside
90 minutes after Sofiane Feghouli gave
them the lead. Baghdad Bounedjah
missed a penalty chance to extend the
lead and Jonathan Kodjia needed no
second invitation to equalise and force
the game into extra time, where the
Ivorians had the better of some close
chances. It was a game where Wilfried
Zaha showed his wizardry after being
benched for two of the group games.
SEMI-FINALS
Yet another goalkeeping calamity proved
decisive as Tunisia lost to Senegal in a
match full of foibles, while Riyad Mahrez
scored a stunning last-gasp winner to see
Algeria past Nigeria in the other semi.
It meant the two form teams
continued on to the decider although
Tunisia, whose overall tournament
balance was mediocre at best, kept
themselves in contention right through
The second semi-final was marked
by Mahrez’s stoppage-time free-kick
to earn Algeria a dramatic 2-1 victory
Threat...Senegal
striker Sadio Mane
attacks TunisiaChampions...
Algeria celebrate