Algeria crowned AFCON Champions, Beat Senegal 1-0

-By Saidu Abubakar with Agency reports

Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time as a freak early goal secured a 1-0 win against Senegal in the final in Cairo.

Baghdad Bounedjah’s shot took a huge deflection off Salif Sane and looped over goalkeeper Alfred Gomes.

Senegal, who have never won the competition, were awarded a penalty for handball in the second half but it was overturned after a VAR review.

Algeria closed out the rest of the game to win their first title since 1990. Senegal’s players collapsed on the pitch in tears at the final whistle.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, who said before the game he would swap his Champions League winners medal for Africa Cup of Nations success, looked disconsolate as Algeria players celebrated around him.

“Without the players I am nothing,” said Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi. “They are the main ones.”

Senegal, making only their second appearance in the final since 2002, dominated for large periods but struggled to make the most of their possession.

M’Baye Niang was at the centre of two of their best chances as he flashed a fierce drive over the bar just before the break, and rounded keeper Rais M’bolhi early in the second half only to shoot wide from a tight angle.

M’Bolhi also did well to palm over a stinging effort from Youssouf Sabaly.

The decisive moment for Senegal was the reversal of the decision to award a penalty on the hour mark.

Ismaila Sarr’s cross was blasted straight at Adlene Guedioura’s arm, referee Neant Alioum pointed to the spot, but, just as the Senegal players started celebrating the decision, he quickly indicated that a VAR review was under way.

After watching the replays on the pitch-side monitor, which clearly showed Guedioura’s arm being by his side, Alioum reversed the decision. Although the decision was correct, the result was harsh on Senegal, with Algeria managing only one shot on goal.

…As Ighalo wins Golden Boot
Thanks to his strike in the third place match, the Nigeria international moved ahead of four rivals to claim the prize for the first time

Ighalo won the Golden Boot having scored five goals for Nigeria in the tournament.

The 30-year-old moved two goals clear of Riyad Mahrez, Adam Ounas, Cedric Bakambu and Sadio Mane following his first-half strike against Tunisia in the third place match.

Ighalo’s heroics helped the Super Eagles finish third in Egypt. He started with one goal in the group stage, which was against Burundi and followed it up with a brace against Cameroun, before scoring one each against Algeria and Tunisia.

…How Super Eagles clinched bronze
Super Eagles forward Odion Ighalo netted the only goal as Nigeria ran away with a 1-0 win against Tunisia in the third-place match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Ighalo was gifted an easy tap-in following a Tunisian defensive mix-up at the Al Salam Stadium.

Jamilu Collins’ cross from the left was poorly parried by goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifa against the legs of defender Yassine Meriah.

The defender tried to stop it from going over the line before Ighalo pounced to give Nigeria a third minute lead. It proved a costly blunder for Tunisia, who lost the semi-final in extra-time to Senegal in similar circumstances.

Ben Cherifa attempted to make up for his error with some good saves in the second half. He first denied Samuel Chukwueze’s left-footed shot just after the hour mark, before saving two efforts from substitute Samuel Kalu in stoppage time.

Nigeria, who dominated the game, have now won the bronze medal at different Cup of Nations’ tournaments play-off final they have ever played in: 1978, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2019.

…Nigeria’s road to third place play-off
Three-time champions Nigeria wished to add a new star on their green jersey, but their campaign was cut short at the semi-final.

Nigeria started their campaign in their Alexandria based Group B, defeating Burundi 1-0. Odion Ighalo scored after 77 minutes to hand the Super Eagles their first 3 points. They then defeated Guinea with the same result, with Kenneth Omeruo scoring the game’s lone goal after 73 minutes. But they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Madagascar in the final group game to finish in second place with six points, one shy of leaders Madagascar.

Nigeria then defeated title holders Cameroun 3-2 in the Round of 16, also at Alexandria Stadium. Ighalo (19, 63) and Alex Iwobi (66) scored for the Super Eagles.

In the quarter-finals they defeated South Africa at Cairo International Stadium 2-1, with Samuel Chukwueze (27) and William Troost-Ekong (89) as scorers.

But their way was stopped at the semi-final with a 2-1 defeat to Algeria, with Ighalo scoring Nigeria’s only goal from the spot after 72 minutes.

Group stage Nigeria 1-0 Burundi
Group stage Nigeria 1-0 Guinea
Group stage Madagascar 2-0 Nigeria
Round of 16 Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon
Quarter-final Nigeria 2-1 South Africa
Semi-final Algeria 2-1 Nigeria

…This young team will learn – Rohr
Though hugely disappointed that his team could not get into the final of the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019, Nigeria’s head coach Gernot Rohr has chosen to look at the positives, believing his young side will learn from their experiences and misgivings.

“I think sometimes a little bit of experience cost us in the game.

“I think this team has come a long way after making a good World Cup. We can be proud of our performances,” said Rohr who led the Eagles to an AFCON return for the first time since they won the title in 2013.

The tactician stated that the main difference between them and Algeria in the semis was the experience.

…What Tunisia coach said after 1-0 defeat to Nigeria
Tunisia coach, Alain Griesse, chose to take the positives from his side’s 1-0 defeat to the Super Eagles.

Griesse, speaking to reporters after the game, said their task was made harder by the goal and injuries to two players.

“It was a difficult match and we were fatigued. We lost two players in the game to injury but we can’t ascertain the extent of their injury.

“It is a first semi-final for us since 2004 and it has come when the tournament was increased to 24 teams.

“Our performances recently show that Tunisian football is once again on the up,” he added.

…A fifth “All-African Coaches” AFCON final
Over 32 editions of Africa’s showpiece football tournament, this is just the fifth final that witnesses two local (African) coaches on helm of the finalists’ technical staff. Just four times before the final was an All-African coaches affair.

In 1962 hosts Ethiopia coached by legend Yidnekatchew Tessema won their first (and only to date) AFCON title, defeating Egypt 4-2 in the final. The Pharaohs were then coached by the duo of Mohamed El Guindy and Hanafy Bastan.

Ghana won the 1965 edition, beating hosts Tunisia 3-2. The Black Stars coach Charles Gyamfi had his second successive AFCON glory then, defeating Tunisian counterpart Mokhtar Ben Nacef.

Another Ghanaian, Fred Ousam-Duodu led the Black Stars to the 1978 title at home, defeating Uganda led by local legend Pete Okee 2-0 in the final.

And in 1998, Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary became the first man to win AFCON as a player (1959) and coach. He guided the Pharaohs to their fourth title in Burkina Faso, defeating South Africa, coached by local icon Jomo Sono 2-0 in the final.

…Overall, 11 local coaches had won 15 AFCON titles in the previous 31 editions
Ghana’s Gyamfi and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata had each won record three titles, with Nigerian Stephen Keshi being the latest to achieve that in 2013. Algeria’s Belmadi has joined this prestigious list having won the trophy on Friday, 19 July, 2019.

…List of winning local coaches of AFCON titles:
· Mourad Fahmy (Egypt – 1959)
· Yidnekatchew Tessema (Ethiopia – 1962)
· Charles Gyamfi (Ghana – 1963, 1965 and 1982)
· Adolphe Bibanzoulo (Congo – 1972)
· Fred Osam-Duodu (Ghana – 1978)
· Abdelhamid Kermali (Algeria – 1990)
· Yeo Martial (Cote d’Ivoire – 1992)
· Clive Barker (South Africa – 1996)
· Mahmoud El Gohary (Egypt – 1998)
· Hassan Shehata (Egypt – 2006, 2008 and 2010)
· Stephen Keshi (Nigeria – 2013)