Africa Cup: Kessie eliminates Bennacer’s Algeria, Comoros in the second round

Boom, to the ground. The fall of the reigning champion Algeria makes a lot of noise, more than that of Ghana on Tuesday: the Ivory Coast wins the big match 3-1 and takes qualification and first place, with Kessie Mvp scoring and Bennacer eliminated. In the other match, Equatorial Guinea takes the feat, winning by measure over Sierra Leone, even saving a penalty in the final. The Ivorians will face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, but these results also promote the Comoros Islands, at their absolute debut: in the round of 16 they will face the hosts of Cameroon.

Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria

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The most awaited challenge on Thursday of the African Cup of Nations is that between two superpowers of the continent, with the opportunity for Franck Kessie and his companions to eliminate the reigning champions. The situation for the green-and-orange players immediately turns to the best, because the Milan midfielder finds the goal after 22 minutes. It is true, just before Ismael Bennacer had almost taken the lead by hitting a post, but in football what counts is to inflate the net: Kessie does it in tap-in, at the end of a good move complete with a precious assist from Nicolas Pépé. That being the winners of the last edition doesn’t count for anything once on the pitch was noticed against Equatorial Guinea and it can be seen several times in Douala: in the 40th minute a free-kick from the right by Serge Aurier catches Ibrahim Sangaré very solitary in the penalty area , who hits the head and surprises the innocent Rais M’Bolhi. The Desert Foxes try to approach the recovery with pride, but the Ivorians continue to dominate with a light mind: Aurier touches the pole with a missile, shortly after M’Bolhi shields Pépé’s attempt. The Arsenal player himself, in the 54th minute, certifies the Algerian agony: 3-0, North Africans at home with dishonor. In the 60th minute, Riyad Mahrez even hit the post from a penalty awarded for a contact between Simon Deli and Youcef Belaili: it is a sign that there is no solution, despite Sofiane Bendebka’s goal in the 73rd minute. As in 1992, the reigning champion Algeria is immediately eliminated with only one point in the standings.

Sierra Leone-Equatorial Guinea 0-1

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The teams on the pitch in Limbé play with the awareness that they can accomplish a feat: qualify for the round of 16 through a prohibitive group. Thanks to Algeria’s difficulties, the door is open. The formations could be the same at first glance, but on the pitch it is Equatorial Guinea that pushes more effectively. Sierra Leone is saved on the goal line in the half hour, but in the 38th minute a scheme on a free-kick at Ganet’s shot and the conclusion is a winner. In the second half it is Steven Caulker who touches the equalizer on his head, but the last half hour is a long sequence of dramas on minimal contacts, testifying that those in the lead want to stay there until the ninetieth. At 84 ‘, however, Ganet hangs on to Issa Kallon in the area and Kei Kamara goes to the spot: nice angled shot, but Jesus Owono’s recall hand shatters the dreams of Sierra Leone, then in ten for the red at Kwame Quee .