Mauritania 1-0 Algeria: Underdogs claim historic win to reach knockouts as Algeria sent crashing out
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Updated 23/01/2024 at 22:40 GMT
For the first time in their history Mauritania have won a game at the Africa Cup of Nations. To make matters sweeter their first victory came against one of the continent’s traditional powerhouses, Algeria. Incredibly the result sends Mauritania through to the next round and sends Algeria home without a win in what will be remembered as a catastrophic campaign.
Mauritania's defender #14 Dellah Yaly (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Mauritania's French coach Amir Abdou (2nd R) during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group D football match between Mauritania and Algeria at Stade de la Paix in B
Image credit: Getty Images
When Mohamed Dellahi scored on 37 minutes, it was the first time Mauritania had ever led in an Africa Cup of Nations match.
Fifty-seven minutes later, they had won an AFCON match for the first time and qualified for the knockouts for the first time, finishing third in group D behind Angola and Burkina Faso, while sending a devastated but disappointing Algeria home.
Algeria started slowly but improved through the first half then, just as they were building pressure, Mauritania scored, Dellahi firing home after a half-cleared corner was sent back into the box.
At the start of the second half, Djamel Belmadji abandoned his original plan, restoring Riyad Mahrez and Nabil Bentaleb to his side, and though Algeria did create more chances, it was Mauritania who came closer to scoring, Ibnou Ba hitting the bar from close range.
An ecstatic Mauritania move on and will meet Cape Verde next in the last 16. They couldn’t, could they?
Talking point - Belmadi to blame, Algeria have no excuses
Algeria were absolutely dismal against Mauritania, lacking cohesion or any semblance of organisation, and on another day might have lost by more.
Much of the blame for that must go to their manager Djamel Belmadi. For him to move on from Riyad Mahrez and Nabil Bentaleb makes some sort of sense, but to do so in the middle of a tournament, before a decisive game? In fairness to him, he wasn’t stubborn, accepting his error and introducing Mahrez at half-time.
But the damage was done because by then Mauritania were in front and there was a touch of desperation about everything Algeria did such that now, after a second consecutive group-stage exit, Belmadi will do very well to keep his job.
Player of the match - Babacar Niasse (Mauritania)
One way or another, he saved everything, but there were gigantic performances throughout his team.
Player ratings
Mauritania: Niasse 9, Keita 8, Dellahi 8, Ba 7, Diaw 7, Gassama 7, Koita 8, Odda 8, Thiam 8, Amar 7, Anne 7. Subs: Houbeib 7, Fofana 7, Camara 7, Kamara 7, Ba 6.
Algeria: Mandrea 6, Atal 7, Mandi 6, Tougai 5, Ait Nouri 6, Aouar 6, Zerrouki 5, Boudaoui 5, Amoura 5, Bounedjah 5, Ounas 5. Subs: Mahrez 6, Bentaleb 6, Belaili 5, Slimani 6, Van den Kerkhof 6.
Algeria: Mandrea 6, Atal 7, Mandi 6, Tougai 5, Ait Nouri 6, Aouar 6, Zerrouki 5, Boudaoui 5, Amoura 5, Bounedjah 5, Ounas 5. Subs: Mahrez 6, Bentaleb 6, Belaili 5, Slimani 6, Van den Kerkhof 6.
Key stat
Match highlights
25’ - CHANCE FOR ALGERIA!
Boudaoui plays a cute pass out to the right where Atal is on the march, and he cuts back for Aouar, arriving nicely, but the ball's a tricky height so, adjusting feet to leap, he turns his effort around the near post.
37’ - GOAL! Mauritania 1-0 Algeria (Dellahi) No way! Mandrea flaps the corner away and clears the box, but Mouhsine slams a low shot back into the box that Tougai tries to control. Instead, though, the ball breaks to Dellahi, who takes a touch and drags a low shot inside the near post! For the first time ever in Afcon., Mauritania lead in a game, while Algeria are currently going out!
Boudaoui plays a cute pass out to the right where Atal is on the march, and he cuts back for Aouar, arriving nicely, but the ball's a tricky height so, adjusting feet to leap, he turns his effort around the near post.
37’ - GOAL! Mauritania 1-0 Algeria (Dellahi) No way! Mandrea flaps the corner away and clears the box, but Mouhsine slams a low shot back into the box that Tougai tries to control. Instead, though, the ball breaks to Dellahi, who takes a touch and drags a low shot inside the near post! For the first time ever in Afcon., Mauritania lead in a game, while Algeria are currently going out!
59’ - HIS DELIVERY IS EXCELLENT TOO
Picking out Mandi at the near post, who powers a header with Niasse prangs away! That's a really good save because it came at him very quickly.
70’ - ALGERIA HAVE A FREE-KICK
And again Mahrez swerves it in, Slimani winning the flick-on and finding Mandi at the back post! He's got a clear sight of goal, but he's close in and the angle acute, allowing Niasse to smother. He's having a good evening.
85’ - OH MY DAYS!
Hassan races down the right and slings a cross to the back post, and Ba must score! But instead he punches against the face of the bar and unloads his fury on a hoarding. And Mauritania aren't finished there! Zerroukis gives it away and they spring, Kamara seizing possession and snaps a square pass for Koita that clips the head of a sliding defender, so he can only shovel a shot that's turned behind. What a passage!
90+6’ - BUT HERE COME ALGERIA!
Mahrez skips across his man, who clobbers him, but the ref plays a good advantage and a ball ion behind sees Mandi shoot again ... and again, Niasse blocks! But he can't hold, and stretching for the rebound, Bounedjah knocks behind! he wants a penalty, but the ref is having no such thing.
Picking out Mandi at the near post, who powers a header with Niasse prangs away! That's a really good save because it came at him very quickly.
70’ - ALGERIA HAVE A FREE-KICK
And again Mahrez swerves it in, Slimani winning the flick-on and finding Mandi at the back post! He's got a clear sight of goal, but he's close in and the angle acute, allowing Niasse to smother. He's having a good evening.
85’ - OH MY DAYS!
Hassan races down the right and slings a cross to the back post, and Ba must score! But instead he punches against the face of the bar and unloads his fury on a hoarding. And Mauritania aren't finished there! Zerroukis gives it away and they spring, Kamara seizing possession and snaps a square pass for Koita that clips the head of a sliding defender, so he can only shovel a shot that's turned behind. What a passage!
90+6’ - BUT HERE COME ALGERIA!
Mahrez skips across his man, who clobbers him, but the ref plays a good advantage and a ball ion behind sees Mandi shoot again ... and again, Niasse blocks! But he can't hold, and stretching for the rebound, Bounedjah knocks behind! he wants a penalty, but the ref is having no such thing.
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