2023 AFCON: Algeria snatch dramatic draw against Burkina Faso

2023 AFCON: Algeria snatch dramatic draw against Burkina Faso

Algeria kept their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations hopes alive after coming from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Burkina Faso at the Stade de la Paix on Saturday, January 20.

The Stallions went into the break a goal to the good after Mohamed Konate opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime, but Baghdad Bounedjah quickly hit back for Djamel Belmadi’s side after the restart before Bertrand Traore struck from the penalty spot 19 minutes from time.

However, Bounedjah rescued the Fennec Foxes with a 95th-minute equaliser to take them above Angola into second place in Group D, still point two behind Burkina Faso.

Algeria bossed possession in the first half in sweltering conditions, although Hubert Velud’s side had an early sight at goal when Abdoul Tapsoba steered a weak header at Anthony Mandrea from Adama Guira’s cross in the sixth minute.

Youcef Belaili had the first chance for the North Africans eight minutes later after he ran into space down the left flank and advanced towards the box before unleashing a shot that was pushed away to safety by Herve Koffi.

Bounedjah should perhaps have given the Fennec Foxes the lead on 26 minutes as he latched onto Issoufou Dayo’s poor header from a long ball, but Koffi recovered to get a glove on the goal-bound shot after the striker had rounded the goalkeeper.

Koffi pulled off another fine save to deny Sofiane Feghouli at point-blank range on 44 minutes after the midfielder directed Riyad Mahrez’s pass goalwards.

However, Algeria conceded at the worst possible time when Konate headed home Tapsoba’s clipped ball in the third minute of stoppage time and VAR allowed the goal to stand after the assistant had flagged the striker offside.

They took just five second-half minutes to respond though, with Bounedjah pouncing from close range after Koffi had saved Bentaleb’s initial shot when the ball broke for him from a blocked free-kick.

Bounedjah then wasted a glorious chance to put Algeria ahead on 53 minutes as he headed wide at the back post from Mohamed Amoura’s perfectly-weighted cross.

Belaili’s cross to the far post on 58 minutes was a little too strong for Amoura, who was unable to keep his header down from inside the six-yard box.

But the Fennec Foxes conceded another penalty when Issa Kabore went down under a poor challenge from Rayan Ait-Nouri inside the box on 66 minutes. The referee initially waved play on before being instructed to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor by VAR and pointed to the spot.

Traore sent Mandrea the wrong way from 12 yards out to restore the Stallions’ lead in the 71st minute after play had been held up to attend to Kabore, who seemed genuinely hurt by the tackle.

Bounedjah again proved wasteful when he steered a header high and wide at the near post from Amoura’s cross in the 79th minute.

Traore was presented with a late chance to seal the win after bursting into the box from the left in the 87th minute, although he lashed his shot wide from an angle.

Bounedjah would rescue his team deep into stoppage-time though, as he headed home Adam Ounas’ delivery in the 95th minute to clinch a share of the spoils.

Source: Supersport

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