Safiu Kehinde
Two-time AFCON Champion, Algeria, have been eliminated from the ongoing 2024 African Cup of Nations following 1-0 defeat to Mauritania.
In what would go down as a terrible campaign for the Desert Foxes, Mauritania sealed their early exit with a narrow 1-0 defeat at the Stade De la Paix which saw Algeria finished bottom of the Group D table with two points across three games.
In desperate quest to advance to the next round, Mauritania took the fight to the doorpost of the 2019 AFCON Champion.
The Lions of Chinguetti took a surprising 1-0 lead in the first half courtesy Yali Delahi 37th minute header from a corner kick.
The second-half saw Algeria seeking an equalizer as they charged at the Mauritanian team.
Despite their dominant display with 75 percent ball possession and six shots on target, Algeria failed to break through Mauritania’s watertight defense as they succumb to a defeat and outright elimination.
While Angola and Burkina Faso finished first and second of Group D respectively thereby securing automatic qualification, Mauritania’s chance of qualification hang in the balance as they join the league of third-place finishers awaiting to earn one of the four slots available for the best third-place finishers.