Algeria Sweep Nigeria Out Of AFCON 2019
Algeria make it through to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of the Super Eagles of Nigeria after a thrilling encounter in Alexandria, Egypt.
Mahrez stuck it in the onion bag with a direct free kick after being fouled only a few metres just outside the box.
Just before that goal, the Manchester City winger had been a bit quiet but tucked that goal into the back of the net with such beautiful technique.
The Super Eagles were outclassed in all departments with only Etebo showing an exceedingly brilliant version of himself in the game.
The Desert Foxes got rewarded for all their hardwork in the first half of the game after William Troost-Ekong stuck his leg out to score an own goal from an in-swing by none other then eventual match-winner, Riyad Mahrez.
Even before that, they had continuously been a thorn in the flesh of the Super Eagle’s defence forcing a couple of mistakes from Kenneth Omeruo and Etebo at one time.
The Super Eagles were destabilized by that goal but came out stronger after the break, going through Samuel Chukuwueze to find some space in the Algerian defence.
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Then they got an equalizing goal against the run of play when Algeria appeared to have handled the ball in the box and a VAR review had given away a penalty, one Ighalo beautifully tucked into the net.
The trumpets at the Nigerian stand went blazing as they cheered their team on. They were back, better and ready to cause some real disappointment.
Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr then brought on Henry Onyekuru for Chukwueze. With the former failing to penetrate the box of the Desert Foxes, the tides changed and Algeria held on to the ball trying to make something of it.
They did get rewarded for their hardwork in added time when Mahrez took a curling freekick beyond the reach of Nigeria goalie, Daniel Akpeyi to end Nigeria’s magical run. It’s all over!
