Algeria’s hopes of winning their second Africa Cup of Nations hit a dead end on Monday after drawing 2-2 with Senegal in their last group game.
The desert foxes were pitted in Group B alongside Zimbabwe, Senegal and fellow North Africans Tunisia.
While it was dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ by many, Algeria, on paper looked superior compared to their opponents and were expected progress from the group.
With the reigning African Player of the Year, Rihad Mahrez, his Leicester City teammate Islam Slimani, and Porto’s Yacine Brahimi among other talented players in the team, Algeria were not only expected to boss the group, but were also among the favorites to lift the trophy.
Onto the tournament proper and the continent’s No.4 according to FIFA turned out a hoot.
Algeria’s first game in Gabon presented a rather easier opponent in the group – Zimbabwe. While the Warriors own some really decent players, with forward Karma Billiat the most notable one, this was a winnable game for the North Africans.
Mahrez’s debut goal in the competition put the 1990 AFCON hosts and champions in the driving seat as early as the twelfth minute, but his efforts were undermined by poor defending. After Kudakwashe Mahachi squaring the game for Zimbabwe, Mokhtar Belkhiter gifted their opponents the lead after he brought down Onismor Bhasera for a penalty that Nyasha Mushekwi converted.
The defending got even worse! Hideous and costly against their neighbors Tunisia in the second game. First, their captain Aissa Mandi beats his own goalkeeper to score an own goal, then Faouzi Ghoulam, looking to make up for his own dreadful mistake, brings down Wahbi Khazi inside the forbidden area.
They were at it again against Senegal. Having netted an early goal through Slimani, Algeria were in ascendancy and were in control of the game. Only to be hit on a counter attack. Right-back Mohammed Rabie Meftah lost track of his opponent and before he set foot inside the eighteen yard box, Senegal were already celebrating.
For Moussa Sow’s goal (Senegal’s second), Ismaila Sarr found a loose ball around Algeria’s eighteen yard box, fed the Fernerbahce striker and Algeria’s hopes of at least exiting the tournament with victory faded as Sow lashed low into the net.
In a must win situation and with a lot at stake, Algeria failed to salvage themselves as they crashed out of the tournament with no win.
Their poor defending manifested right from the qualifiers. While they conceded only five goals in Group J, question was against which opposition? Algeria drew 3-3 with Ethiopia ranked 112 in the world. That was after they had conceded against Lesotho in their second group game.
As they reflect on their disappointing tournament, fans will feel they were let down by their defenders.
