CHAN 2022: Algeria edge it in unspectacular fashion

Winning is what matters, Madjid Bougherra will no doubt say. Especially for a host nation, getting the start of the tournament right is essential. How you do it is secondary. Only the three points count. Algeria made a winning start by beating Libya by the narrowest of margins, but it was enough to get "their" tournament up and running.

The win was a long time coming for Algeria. Despite a packed stadium, with the ultras driving the home side on from the stands at the Nelson Mandela stadium in Baraki, Algiers, the "Fennecs" lacked inspiration and plodded along for an hour. Libya were well organised and coach Corentin Martins was close to pulling off his plan. In the end, though, after absorbing so much Algerian pressure, the dam finally broke, from a rash goalkeeper's challenge. Muad Allafi was a split second late coming out, rushed in and committed the foul inside his box. South African referee Abongile Tom had no need to consult the VAR. The foul was far too obvious. Aymen Mahious took the penalty and opened the scoring. It was the 57th minute.

The USM Alger striker thus became the first goalscorer of CHAN 2022 and put Algeria ahead. Madjid Bougherra could then relax on his bench, no doubt gripped until then by the fear of starting with a goalless draw. What a relief.

Algeria ahead in the stats

Although the goal was slow to arrive for Algeria, the "Fennecs" were never really worried in this game, as the match statistics show. Algeria dominated across the board. They had 53% possession and 10 shots to Libya's 6, with 4 on target against 1 for Libya. That is not all. In terms of attacks, Algeria were also ahead with 108 to their opponents' 88, of which 67 were dangerous against 53.

Jim CEESAY

Read more on the same subject: CHAN 2022: the full competition schedule