Algeria knocked Senegal out of their stride and kept Sadio Mane under wraps as they edged the West Africans 1-0 in a stop-start Africa Cup of Nations match on Thursday to reach the last 16, Reuters says.
Forward Youcef Belaili rifled home the only goal in the 48th minute of a match featuring a remarkable 52 fouls according to official statistics, 34 by Algeria, to leave the Desert Foxes top of Group C with six points from two games.
Senegal felt they should have had a penalty midway through the second half when two players barged into Mane but the referee was not interested, another sign that officiating is different in the tournament compared to other regions.
“Tactically, it was a very interesting match. You can’t give them the smallest of spaces otherwise you will play dearly,” said Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi. “The players deserved it — they followed my advice very closely.”
Senegal made a lively start and Mane, on the end of crunching tackles throughout the match, wasted a free kick by firing high over the bar, the first indication it was not to be his evening.
Another foul on Mane led to a scuffle but, apart from that, the game never got out of control despite the tension bubbling under the surface.
At the other end, Baghdad Bounedjah was a constant menace to Senegal and nearly gave Algeria the lead when he lobbed the ball over Edouard Mendy as the goalkeeper came racing off his line only for Kalidou Koulibaly to clear the danger.
Bounedjah also charged down a Mendy clearance after the goalkeeper dallied but the ball rebounded into touch and he had another effort tipped round the post.
Algeria broke through four minutes after halftime when Belaili’s strike evaded two defenders to leave Mendy unsighted after Senegal lost the ball in midfield.
Senegal looked uncomfortable having to chase the game and nearly went further behind when Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez ended a twisting run by firing narrowly wide.
Their best chance fell to Mbaye Diagne after goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi parried a fierce Alfred Ndiaye shot but he sent his close-range header wide.
Kenya, helped by a Michael Olunga brace, twice came from behind to beat East African neighbours Tanzania 3-2 on Thursday and chalk up their second-ever win at the Africa Cup of Nations in a match both coaches described as crazy.
Simon Msuva and Mbwana Samatta put Tanzania in front but Olunga and Johanna Omolo levelled for the Harambee Stars before Olunga struck the winner nine minutes from time.
Kenya, who had won only once in 15 previous matches in the competition, have three points from two games in Group C, level with Senegal. Tanzania, yet to get off the mark, became the first team to be eliminated in the 24-team tournament.
Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amunike was surprisingly critical of his team.
Although neither side are among the heavyweights of African football, they produced a remarkably open contest with a hatful of chances.
Migne said before the match that it was time for his team, who are taking part at their sixth Afcon tournament, to end their run of falling at the first hurdle each time.
But they were caught napping in the sixth minute as Tanzania took a shock lead. An end to end move ended with Samatta being sent clear down the left, his shot was parried by Patrick Matasi and Msuva turned in the rebound.
Helped by the generous amount of space given to them by Tanzania, Kenya began to create openings and Erick Ouma had a close-range effort brilliantly stopped by goalkeeper Aishi Manula before Olunga hit the crossbar
They equalised in the 39th minute with an acrobatic effort. A free kick into the area was pushed away by Manula, the ball bounced off Tanzania defender Erasto Nyoni and was hooked into the net by Olunga who showed excellent reactions.
Kenya still seemed to be celebrating one minute later when Samatta won the ball in the penalty area and the Belgian-based forward fired a low shot into the net.
The game continued in the same vein in the second half and Kenya levelled again in the 63rd minute, Omolo scoring with a diving header from a low cross at the near post.
Kenya snatched victory when they broke out of defence and the ball was played to Olunga, whose snot sneaked between Manula and his near post.
