ALGERIA – EQUATORIAL GUINEA. The Algerians are living a nightmarish CAN 2022. After the draw on the first day of Group E against Sierra Leone (0-0), the defending champions lost to Equatorial Guinea (0-1). A defeat that compromises the qualification.
22:25 – The summary of the match
Nightmare start to CAN 2022 for the defending champions. Algeria had to catch up after conceding a surprise draw on the first day of Group E against Sierra Leone (0-0). But it didn’t really go as planned. The Fennecs dominated but also suffered. In a rather balanced first half, the Algerians created the biggest chances but as against Sierra Leone, they fell on an impassable goalkeeper. Jesus Owono will have made several high-class parades and even when he misses his save, the Equatoguinean goalkeeper manages to get away with it as on the corner taken from the head by Bensebaini. But the Algerians found the net twice in this encounter but on both occasions the assistant referee raised his flag to signal offside positions. And by dint of failures and disallowed goals, the only valid achievement of the meeting was granted to the defender of Equatorial Guinea Esteban Orozco on a corner which he takes back with a furious tackle at the far post (70th). And if the Algerians had 20 minutes to react, Juan Micha’s team defended body and soul to hold this resounding feat. And the witness of this Algerian impotence was revealed in the additional time of this meeting. Led 1 to 0, the Greens no longer had the strength to play and marched despite their delay on the scoreboard. The situation in the standings is complicated for the reigning African champions but it is not yet prohibitive. Algeria is last three points behind the Ivorian leader whom they will face on Thursday during the third and last day of this group stage. This group E is extremely tight where all the teams can still qualify including the two small thumbs that are Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.
22:10 – Salvador voted man of the match
Equatoguinean winger Edu Salvador walked away with the man of the match trophy. The player from Fuenlabrada, in the Spanish second division, achieved an enormous performance with a lot of kilometers traveled and a considerable number of faults obtained.
22:05 – End of Algeria’s unbeaten streak
Beyond this surprise defeat on the occasion of this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea, the defeat of the Fennecs this evening also rhymes with the interruption of this incredible series of 35 games without defeats in all competitions. The Greens will therefore not exceed, for the moment, the world record held by Italy with 37 games without defeat.
22:00 – The situation in the standings
After this defeat of the Fennecs during this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea, the defending champions find themselves last in group E with a small point. However, the Greens are not yet saying goodbye to CAN 2022. Riyad Mahrez’s teammates are only three points behind the Ivorian leader whom they will face this Thursday during the third and last day of this group stage.
21:53 – It’s over!
Huge surprise in Douala at the Japoma Stadium. Les Fennecs, winners of the last CAN, lost their second match of this 2022 edition and saw qualification for the round of 16 move away.
21:49 – Algerians can’t do it anymore
While trailing 1 goal to 0, the Fennecs no longer have any force to deliver in the battle. This end of Algeria – Equatorial Guinea is crazy. The defending champions seem resigned.
21:48 – Change for Equatorial Guinea
Salvador gives way to Bocari. The Equatorial Guinean winger will have delivered a huge performance during this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea.
21:47 – Five minutes of added time
We enter the additional time of this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea. The fourth referee adds five more minutes. The opportunity for Algeria to save the furniture.
21:44 – The tension is at its peak
The atmosphere in this end of Algeria – Equatorial Guinea is unbreathable. The Fennecs give everything to come back against a team that is holding a success with forceps.
21:43 – What a chance to score for Algeria!
This ending is crazy! Algeria outrageously dominates this end of the game and again gets a huge opportunity to score. Orozco was very close to scoring against his camp following a cross from Atal. The Equatorial Guineans still hold their victory in this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea.
21:41 – What a comeback from Ganet
The Equatorial Guinea midfielder achieves an excellent strike to counter the Algerian strike following a good overflow from Mahrez. The Equato-Guineans hold in this end of match ultra dominated by the Algerians.
21:40 – Goal disallowed for Algeria
Definitely Algeria can’t do it. Even when they manage to find the net, the goal is eventually canceled. This is the case with this very nice strike from Belaili. The Fennecs are still led in this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea.
21:39 – What a miss from Slimani
Oh what an opportunity for Islam Slimani launched deep by Belaili, the former AS Monaco striker passes over the ball and magnifying it when he was six meters from Owono’s goal.
21:35 – The penalty is requested by the Algerians
What a contentious situation in the Equatoguinean penalty area. Slimani takes a ball from the head and is deflected by an Equatoguinean defender then Owono comes out authoritatively without committing a fault. If the Algerians ask for the penalty, the central referee does not grant them. The game continues in this Algeria – Equatorial Guinea.
21:33 – What a defense from Ndong
Ndong makes a superb defensive gesture as Youcef Atal arrives launched in depth. The Algerians still get a corner.
Throughout this 2022 African Cup of Nations, you can find all the results of the CAN matches as well as all the group rankings updated at the end of the matches in our dedicated paper just above.