Mauritania defeats Algeria to qualifyfor the round of 16 for AFCON 2023
Mauritania, considered underdogs, achieved a momentous upset against two-time Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Algeria with a 1-0 triumph, securing their passage to the tournament’s knockout stages.
Centre-back Yali Dellahi scored the decisive goal late in the first half, leaving Algeria surprised and eliminated from the competition.
This victory for Mauritania marks their first-ever win at the AFCON finals. In the upcoming last-16 clash at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Monday, they will face the unexpected Group B winners, Cape Verde.
Algeria, alongside fellow former champions Ghana, have been eliminated from the tournament, as Tuesday’s results confirmed that the Black Stars cannot qualify among the top four third-placed teams.
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Facing intense pressure from Algeria in the closing stages, the Lions of Chinguetti held their ground, enduring over 11 minutes of stoppage time as the Desert Foxes sought a leveling goal that would have propelled them past Mauritania.
However, the underdogs defended tenaciously, securing a historic victory that advances them to the knockout stages alongside second-placed Burkina Faso and group leaders Angola, who secured the top spot by defeating Burkina Faso 2-0.
Mauritania’s remarkable win over Algeria sets the stage for an exhilarating and unpredictable knockout phase at AFCON 2023.
