In a surprising turn of events, Djamel Belmadi’s Algeria faced a stunning defeat against Mauritania in the AFCON, falling short of a guaranteed progression to the last 16. Despite having multiple chances to open the scoring early on, Algeria couldn’t find the back of the net.
Mauritania, growing into the game, took a shock lead through Dellahi after a blocked shot fell his way. Leading at halftime, Amir Abdou’s side aimed for their first-ever AFCON victory, positioning themselves for qualification as one of the best third-placed finishers.
Algeria, sensing the urgency, introduced Riyad Mahrez in the second half but found themselves close to a 2-0 deficit. The Greens, desperate for a turnaround, faced a resilient Mauritania defense. Despite late offensive efforts from Algeria, including saves by Mauritanian goalkeeper Babacar Niasse, Mauritania secured a fairytale victory – their first-ever against Algeria. This result marks Algeria’s failure to qualify for the knockout stages for the second consecutive tournament.
