Group D kicked off on Monday January 15 with Algeria taking on Angola. Djamel Belmadi's players were held to a 1-1 draw by Angola, despite having 14 shots on target. This is already the 5th "big one" to stumble after Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt and Cameroon.
Chaotic in Cameroon during the AFCON 2021, with a first-round elimination, Algeria is looking for redemption. Baghdad Bounedjah got off to a good start against Angola. The striker got the Fennecs off to a flying start in the 18th minute. The number 9, who was well placed to take advantage of a long ball, let the ball bounce before firing a right-footed shot past the Angolan keeper.
The Algerians dictated the tempo of the match, with Youcef Belaïli particularly lively. Bounedjah thought he had doubled the lead with an acrobatic overhead kick, but was eventually flagged offside (25th). Sovereign in their first match of this CAN 2023, Algeria returned to the dressing room with a one-goal lead.
A hard-fought second half
After the break, however, the situation changed.Algeria were less enterprising, while Angola gained in confidence. The Plancas Negras evened things up in the 68th minute. Mabululu scored a penalty, provoked by Nabil Bentaleb. The Fennecs, unrecognizable, could do no more. Belmadi launched his last-ditch efforts, notably with Houssem Aouar and Guitoun but nothing worked.They failed to create any clear-cut chances in the second half.
Angola thus secured a precious point in this AFCON 2023, with just one shot on target in the match. Algeria, for their part, must fear the ghosts of two years ago, as they face Burkina Faso on Matchday 2, the other favorite in this group and semi-finalists in Cameroon. The Stallions will have the opportunity to take the lead against Mauritania this Tuesday, January 16 at 14:00 GMT.
Just when you think he can't top that finish, he just goes on and pulls that celebration 😝🇩🇿@LesVerts | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/Je4WfRWzx5
— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 16, 2024
