A radio sports commentator in Lagos, Nigeria, described Thursday’s demolition of defending champions, Algeria by flawless Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Cameroon.
The West Africans crushed the flat-footed North Africans 3-1 with Arsenal winger, Nicolas Pepe, registering a classical goal on a night two others compounded Algeria’s woes, sending them back home at the group stage.
The demolition began in the first half when Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare scored for the Elephants in Douala, while Pepe added another goal after the break, catapulting Cote D’Ivoire to the zenith of Group E.
Algeria had a golden opportunity to redeem the situation when they earned a penalty in the second half. But the well-taken penalty by Riyad Mahrez hit the post.
Still, the North Africans wouldn’t give up. Rather the penalty re-energized the team and they got what turned out to be a consolation goal off a powerful header by Sofiane Bendebka. It was Algeria’s first and only goal in the continental football fiesta.
The loss and subsequent ouster marked the fifth time in the last six editions of AFCON that the reigning champions failed to qualify for the Round of 16, the knockout stage.
