*Report by Omolade Durojaiye
Algeria let a lead slip in the 1-1 draw against Angola in their opening 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group D match at the Stade de la Paix in Bouake on Monday night.
The Desert Foxes got off to the perfect start as they broke the deadlock just 18 minutes into the game.
Youcef Belaili set up Baghdad Bounedjah who hit the back of the net to hand Algeria a 1-0 lead with the Palancas Negras’ defence exposed.
Bounedjah, who scored Algeria’s winning goal in the 2019 Afcon final, was hungry for goals.
The Al Sadd striker thought he had doubled his side’s lead when he netted with a fantastic acrobatic effort in the 25th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside and Algeria were 1-0 up at halftime.
Mabululu became a thorn in the Desert Fox’s defence after the restart. Palancas Negras were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute after Mabululu was fouled in the box and the 31 year old striker converted the resultant penalty to make it 1-1.
The Desert Foxes pushed for a late winning goal in stoppage time and the last chance of the match fell for Fares Chaibi after he was set up by Riyad Mahrez, however, goalkeeper Neblu produced a sensational save to deny Chaibi to ensure that the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Therefore, the two time African champions were left to rue their missed chances on the night while Palancas Negras will be proud of their performance as they fought back to hold one of the tournament favourites.
Algeria will now turn their attention to their second Group D match which is against the 2013 Afcon runners up, Burkina Faso on Saturday.
Angola, on the other hand, will square off with Mauritania on the same day.