Thuso Phala scored Bafana Bafana’s only goal in the second half before Algeria came from behind to level through Thulani Hlatshwayo’s own goal.
Faouzi Ghoulam added another for Tunisia to secure a 2-1 goal lead. And Islam Slimani later found the third to seal the win for the North African side.
First half ended goalless with both sides having squandered a couple of chances and second half was more like the same, as a back heel from Algeria’s Slimani got saved by South Africa’s keeper Darren Keet.
Slimani hit the crossbar thereafter for a rebound, and the ball was immediately got cleared away.
Algeria’s Aïssa Mandi made a reckless tackle in the box and South Africa’s Tokelo Rantie could not covert from the penalty spot as the crossbar denied his side the second.
Bafana Bafana kept piling the pressure as they sought the second but Algeria equalized when Thulani Hlatshwayo connected in his own net off Yacine Brahimi’s cross in the area.
South Africa suffered a blow when they lost a distraught Rivaldo Coetzee to injury and they later conceded Faouzi Ghoulam’s shot to go 2-1 down.
Ghoulam surged into the penalty area and scored with his left-footed that South Africa’s Goalkeeper Keet ought to have done better with at his near post.
Gourcuff’s men were finally gifted with the third, Islam Slimani’s left footed shot that found the back of the net for Algeria’s third in the 83rd minute.
Bafana Bafana eventually lost their first group C match, 3-1 to Algeria and will take on Ghana next while South Africa will have to beat Senegal on Friday.
