Thunderbolt at CAN-2022. Algeria were beaten on Sunday by modest Equatorial Guinea, complicating a possible qualification in the round of 16. Invincible for 35 matches and reigning African champions, the Fennecs were nevertheless favorites for their own succession.
So close to the record… After 35 consecutive matches without defeat under the leadership of Djamel Belmadi, Algeria, reigning African champions, lost on Sunday January 16 against modest Equatorial Guinea, 114th in the FIFA rankings. Above all, with only one point before the shock against Côte d’Ivoire on the third day, the Fennecs complicated the task for a qualification in the round of 16 of the African Cup of Nations.
The match begins with a shower of yellow cards. In less than ten minutes, Bounedjah (4th), Bensebaini (8th) and Ndong (9th) each received a warning. Under these conditions, it’s hard to imagine the game developing and the meeting picking up pace.
It is finally Equatorial Guinea which will plant the first banderilla. Siafa is thrown deep and hooks her vis-à-vis to present herself in front of the goalkeeper. Mbolhi lies down perfectly and the linesman finally signals an offside (18th).
Algeria reacts immediately. Mahrez, served in the area, center in first intention, but it is narrowly countered (19th). Then Owono distinguished himself by making a double parry at close range (21st).
Nervous Belmadi
After these five minutes of intense pressure on Owono’s goal, the tension subsides. The faults multiply again, chopping the game. The show comes more from the sides of the field. The Japoma stadium in Douala is far from full but the stands are full enough to throw a wave. And, on the side of the Algerian bench, Djamel Belmadi also makes the show. Nervous to the extreme, the coach keeps shouting and gesticulating to replace his men.
Instructions far from useless. Following a corner from Equatorial Guinea repelled by the Algerian defence, the winger is shifted in the axis and arms a powerful strike which grazes the frame (39th). A few minutes later, Riyad Mahrez tries a free kick obtained on the line of the penalty area. But the ball goes over (45 + 1).
After the break, M’Bohli saves his partners. While the very restless Salvador Edu recovers a ball in midfield, he serves the incoming Nlavo in the area who strikes from the left. The Algerian goalkeeper intervenes (50th). Belaïli responds tit for tat. His head is pushed back on the line by Orozco (57th).
Nothing is going well for Algeria
Belaïli then tries a well-placed free kick. His low shot grazes the left post of Equatorial Guinea. In the continuity of the action, the Equatoguinean attack overtakes the Algerian defense but Bensebaini, then M’Bohli push back the inevitable.
Algeria ends up cracking on the corner. Esteban Obiang resumes by lying on the ball. It’s in the nets of M’Bohli (70th, 1-0). The stadium explodes to the delight of the Equatoguinean supporters who made the trip.
Summoned to react, the Fennecs threw themselves into the assault of the Equatoguinean cage. Slimani misses a big chance (83rd), Belaïli is denied a goal for offside (84th). Nothing seems to go in the direction of the Algerians. Stoppages are even to the advantage of their opponents.
There will therefore be no 36th consecutive match without defeat and no world record for Algeria. Worse: it could be that there is simply no round of 16 for the Fennecs, because this defeat seriously complicates their task. They will have to win against Côte d’Ivoire, another group E cador in difficulty today, to hope to see the rest of the competition.
