Algeria captured their second Africa Cup of Nations title with a 1-0 victory over Senegal in Friday night's final, adding to the other championship they won in 1990.

The victory at Cairo International Stadium was Algeria's second over the Lions of Teranga in this year's edition of Africa's biennial soccer championship, the other one coming in the teams' second match of the group stage, also by the score of 1-0. </s> Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time as a freak early goal secured a 1-0 win against Senegal in the final in Cairo.

Baghdad Bounedjah’s shot took a huge deflection off Salif Sane and looped over goalkeeper Alfred Gomes.

Senegal, who have never won the competition, were awarded a penalty for handball in the second half but it was overturned after a VAR review.

Algeria closed out the rest of the game to win their first title since 1990.

Senegal’s players collapsed on the pitch in tears at the final whistle.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, who said before the game he would swap his Champions League winners medal for Africa Cup of Nations success, looked disconsolate as Algeria players celebrated around him.

“Without the players I am nothing,” said Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi. “They are the main ones. I suppose the staff played its part in guiding the players but they applied the instructions incredibly well.”

Africa Cup of Nations

Algeria have gone from failing to get out of the group stage two years ago to winning the tournament

Senegal, making only their second appearance in the final since 2002, dominated for large periods but struggled to make the most of their possession.

M’Baye Niang was at the centre of two of their best chances as he flashed a fierce drive over the bar just before the break, and rounded keeper Rais M’bolhi early in the second half only to shoot wide from a tight angle.

M’Bolhi also did well to palm over a stinging effort from Youssouf Sabaly.

The decisive moment for Senegal was the reversal of the decision to award a penalty on the hour mark.

Ismaila Sarr’s cross was blasted straight at Adlene Guedioura’s arm, referee Neant Alioum pointed to the spot, but, just as the Senegal players started celebrating the decision, he quickly indicated that a VAR review was under way.

After watching the replays on the pitch-side monitor, which clearly showed Guedioura’s arm being by his side, Alioum reversed the decision.

Although the decision was correct, the result was harsh on Senegal, with Algeria managing only one shot on goal.

Premier League stars fail to shine

Riyad Mahrez

Both Mane and Mahrez scored three goals in the Africa Cup of Nations

The game was billed by many as a battle between Liverpool’s Mane and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, but both were on the periphery of this encounter.

Mahrez’s lack of contribution was largely down to Algeria’s defensive approach after taking the lead, but Mane will perhaps be disappointed with his input.

He was clearly the player Algeria fans feared most – every touch of the ball was met with boos – but he showed only glimpses of his pace and danger on the ball, possibly showing the signs of fatigue following a long season for club and country.

It is 363 days since Mane began pre-season with Liverpool – and he will only have a couple of weeks rest before the new campaign gets under way on 9 August.

Algeria were very lucky to get their first goal from a deflected shot by Bounedjah. But they made the most of their luck.

Their defence has been formidable all tournament and as much as Senegal tried to create chances, it was just so difficult for them.

The Teranga Lions raised their level after half-time and had a great chance that was missed by Niang, one of two players Algeria were giving very close attention – the other, of course, being Mane.

One goal was enough for Algeria to win a well deserved tournament even though they weren’t their best in the final. Senegal were so close this time but they needed luck and more clinical finishing – and they found neither. </s> Senegal on Friday will battle Algeria for the trophy of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations at the Cairo International Stadium, Egypt.

Senegal has never won the trophy.

The tournament has thrown up surprises such as Madagascar and Benin having good showing at quarter finals while big names such as Egypt, Morocco and defending champions Cameroon had falling by the way side.

Algeria’ performance has been superlative with their wins against Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.

With four wins from their last five over Senegal, including the 1-0 win in the group stages, Algeria may feel the more confident of the two going into the final.

In Group C back on June 27, the Lions of Teranga were narrowly edged out as Algeria’s Youcef Belaili scored the only goal of the game just after half-time.

In terms of their head-to-head record, Senegal and Algeria have faced each other 22 times and it is the latter who have the superior record winning 13 and only losing four. Also, Senegal have never beaten Algeria at an AFCON in eight attempts.

Both sides have had impressive tournaments and have genuine world-class, match-winning talents in Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez.

Both players are still vying for the Golden Boot with three goals each so far, while the possibility of renewing their English Premier League rivalry should not be ruled out.

However, Senegal appear to be weaker with players like Mbaye Diagne, M’baye Niang and Keita Balde Diao struggling to replicate their club form and failing to ease the burden on Mane.

Algeria are leading the overall scoring charts of the tournament with some of its players recording multiple goals. </s> Cairo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 20th Jul, 2019 ) :Baghdad Bounedjah's early goal propelled Algeria to a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 29 years after a fiery 1-0 victory over Sadio Mane's Senegal in Friday's final in Cairo.

Bounedjah gave Algeria a dream start in the second minute when his deflected shot looped over Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, and it proved enough for the 1990 champions to lift the trophy on foreign soil for the first time.

"It's incredible. The win is for the whole country," Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi told beIN sports. "We have to thank (coach) Djamel Belmadi. The situation was tricky in the past before he arrived." "It's a bit hard to soak in right now but I think we'll realise what we've done when we return home," he added.

For Senegal, who lost to Algeria by the same scoreline in the group stage, the long wait for a first continental crown goes on as coach Aliou Cisse, the captain of the 2002 runners-up, again fell short in the final.

"We conceded the goal very early and on the whole I think we deserved to equalise but it didn't happen," said Cisse.

"I want to congratulate my players. We've been working together a long time for this Cup of Nations and we wanted it but tonight it didn't go our way." It was the first title-decider to feature two African coaches since 1998, with Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi completing a whirlwind 12 months at the helm after inheriting a side that failed to make it out of the group stage two years ago.

"Without the players I am nothing. They are the main ones. I suppose the staff played its part in guiding the players but they applied the instructions incredibly well," said Belmadi.

With defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly suspended for Senegal, Salif Sane deputised at the back and Ismaila Sarr was recalled in attack, while Belmadi kept faith in the same side that overcame Nigeria with an injury-time free-kick from Riyad Mahrez.

- Gomis finally beaten - Senegal had understandably feared the absence of Napoli star Koulibaly, banned after two bookings in the knockout rounds, although the towering Sane was desperately unlucky as Algeria grabbed the lead with scarcely a minute played.

As Bounedjah took aim from 20 yards his effort smacked off Sane and arced high into the air before dropping underneath the crossbar and beyond a static Gomis, sparking delirious celebrations from both players and fans, some of whom arrived for the final on military planes provided by the Algerian government.

It was the first time Gomis had conceded in almost 400 minutes in Egypt having replaced the injured Edouard Mendy ahead of Senegal's final group game.

Henri Saivet, who missed a penalty in the 1-0 victory over Tunisia, tried to catch M'Bolhi out with a free-kick while Mbaye Niang fizzed a powerful drive just over as Senegal gradually showed signs of life before the half ended with both sets of players embroiled in a scuffle as they headed for the tunnel.

Senegal thought they had won a penalty on the hour when Cameroonian referee Alioum Alioum pointed to the spot for a suspected handball by Adlene Guedioura, but the official reversed his decision after a VAR review.

Niang rounded an advancing M'Bolhi after a searching ball through from Cheikhou Kouyate but the forward sliced wide of the target from a tough angle, with the Algeria 'keeper then acrobatically tipping over a rasping drive from Youssouf Sabaly.

The Desert Foxes started to look jaded as Senegal brought on fresh legs in Krepin Diatta and Mbaye Diagne, but Youcef Belaili nearly made it 2-0 when his cross brushed the head of a defender and skimmed the roof of the net.

Sarr blazed over on the volley as Algeria clung on to their advantage in the closing minutes, the final whistle greeted by an outpouring of raw emotion as the North Africans emerged worthy winners of the expanded 24-team event. </s> Senegal forward Sadio Mane says he would swap his Champions League winning medal with Liverpool for winning the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.

Senegal seek to win Afcon for the first time when they face Algeria in the final this evening in Cairo, Egypt.

Mane helped Liverpool beat Tottenham to win the Champions League final on 1 June, and has three goals in five starts at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“For sure, I would be ready even today (to swap),” Mane told BBC Sport.

The former Southampton player, 27, added: “Maybe I don’t need to swap when we win it hopefully.

“We know it won’t be easy but it’s normal, it’s part of football. Algeria is a great team and now I’m just looking forward to playing in the final and to win it.”

Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi said his side would “fight” to try and win the tournament for a second time.

“To the Algerian people, I want to say: I’m not a politician, not a miracle worker or a wizard,” he added.

“But we will fight like we have fought to this point.”

Senegal and Algeria met in the group stages, with 1990 champions Algeria winning 1-0.

The biggest team news is that Senegal’s star defender Kalidou Koulibaly will miss the game after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the semi-final win over Tunisia.

It is only the fifth Africa Cup of Nations final to have two African head coaches – and the first since 1998.

Senegal boss Aliou Cisse and Algeria’s Belmadi both played for their countries in the early 2000s.

Algeria have been the best team in the tournament, coming through a group including Friday’s opponents Senegal, Kenya and Tanzania with three wins.

They beat Guinea 3-0 in the last 16 and the Ivory Coast on penalties in the quarters.

Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez scored a dramatic free-kick with the last kick of the game as they beat Nigeria 2-1 in the semi-final.

Senegal, after picking up six points in the group stages, won all their knockout games 1-0. They beat Uganda and Benin, and needed an extra-time own goal to get past Tunisia in the semi-finals.

Remarkably, for a team who have reached the World Cup quarter-finals, Senegal are not one of the 14 countries to have previously been crowned champions of Africa.

They have reached the Afcon final once, in 2002 – the year of that World Cup run – but lost the final on penalties to Cameroon. Cisse, their current head coach, missed the decisive penalty that day.

Algeria have played in two finals, both against Nigeria – losing in 1980 and winning in 1990.

The game sees two of the Premier League’s top players go head to head. Algeria captain Mahrez won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2018-19, with Mane a key part of the Liverpool team that conquered the Champions League. </s> CAIRO - Sadio Mane's Senegal and an Algeria side captained by Riyad Mahrez will attempt to secure their place in Africa Cup of Nations history in Friday's final in Cairo.

Senegal, the 2002 runners-up, are desperate to end a long wait for a first continental title, while Algeria are looking to add to the trophy they lifted as hosts 29 years ago.

For Senegal, Africa's top-ranked side, the ride to the final has encountered its share of bumps in the road but there is little doubt the showpiece at the 75,000-capacity Cairo International Stadium will feature the tournament's two standout teams.

A Youcef Belaili goal gave Algeria a 1-0 win when the countries met in the group stage, but this time there is no second chance with Cup of Nations immortality awaiting the victor.

"If you get to the final, the aim is obviously to win it. The game in the group stage wasn't decisive but now it is and that's the difference," said Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi.

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse is on a mission for personal redemption as the skipper of the side beaten on penalties in the 2002 final, when his missed kick handed the title to Cameroon.

"Having lost that final, I still have it on my mind," said Cisse. "What motivated me to become a coach was to be able to take Senegal to the final. My players told me they would do better than my generation."

"Algeria are a great team and we respect them," he added. "We're in the final now and determined to win."

Liverpool star Mane is hoping to fulfil his "wildest dream" as one of just a handful of Africans to win both the UEFA Champions League and Cup of Nations.

"I'm ready to even swap a Champions League for a Cup of Nations. Going to Dakar with the trophy would be extraordinary. It would be my wildest dream," Mane told France Football ahead of the competition.

Standing in the way, however, is an Algerian outfit that has undergone a remarkable transformation since the arrival of the straight-talking Belmadi as coach a year ago.

The Desert Foxes crashed out of the 2017 edition in the first round and flopped badly in World Cup qualifying, but former Qatar boss Belmadi has healed divisions in the squad to lead his nation to the brink of a first continental crown on foreign land.

"To the Algerian people, I want to say I'm not a politician, not a miracle worker or a wizard, but that we will fight like we have fought to this point," Belmadi said after the 2-1 semifinal win over Nigeria.

Algeria owed that victory to a stunning last-gasp free-kick from Mahrez, who is craving further honours here after a domestic treble with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

"We are very happy to be in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations because it is something very special," said Mahrez.

"It was our goal to do it for the people and for our families. We know they are behind us all the way. It's my dream to win the Cup of Nations."

It will be the first final to feature two local coaches since 1998, when Mahmoud El Gohary's Egypt defeated Jomo Sono and South Africa 2-0 in Ouagadougou.

Senegal had already lost first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to a broken finger and must now do without defensive rock Kalidou Koulibaly, who is suspended after two yellow cards in the knockout phase.

The occasion will also mark the climax not only of Algeria's campaign on the field, but of their fans' recent political campaign in the stands.

In April, long-standing president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned after weekly Friday protests against his expected candidacy for elections, and football fans have been heavily involved in demonstrations.

Algeria will have the backing of an additional 4,800 supporters for the final. Some of them will arrive in Cairo on military planes organised by Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who has also been a target of the demonstrations. </s> A second-minute goal from Baghdad Bounedjah was enough for Algeria to seal a 1-0 win against Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

It was an unusual goal that ultimately sealed the title as Bounedjah's shot pinged off Salif Sane's leg before looping into the back of the net, with Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis left stranded.

But Senegal's defeat was not through lack of trying. They had 62.2 per cent of possession and some superb second-half chances, as well as a withdrawn penalty after a VAR review.

They were unable to go one better than their last appearance in an Africa Cup of Nations final in 2002, while Algeria have won the competition for the second time.

Algeria had the dream start in Cairo as they took the lead inside two minutes. Ismael Bennacer slipped the ball down the wing for Bounedjah, who got ahead of Cheikhou Kouyate to stride towards the edge of the area. He hit a powerful drive that deflected off the outstretched leg of Sane and looped into the net.

The remainder of the half had few clear-cut chances but was littered with fouls and free-kicks - mostly in Senegal's favour. Their best chance of the half came in the 38th minute as M'Baye Niang tried to curl a volley into the far corner but it just fizzed past the post.

Senegal went close again in the 58th minute as Sadio Mane had a rare moment of brilliance. Youssouf Sabaly touched the ball into his path and he wriggled into space inside the area before trying to hammer home - losing a boot in the process. However, Algeria defender Djamel Benlamri was there to block inside the six-yard box.

Two minutes later Senegal thought they had the lifeline of a penalty as Ismaila Sarr's cross hit the arm of Adlene Guedioura, although he had them very close to his body. Referee Sidi Alioum initially pointed to the spot, but the decision was checked with VAR and after a short consultation, the decision was - correctly - reversed.

Despite time not being on their side, Senegal continued to see chances come their way. Niang raced onto a superb through-ball with Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bohli coming out to try and smother. However, the Senegal forward rounded him but took on his shot too quickly and it flew over. Not long after, Sabaly tried his luck with a wonderful strike from range, but again, it went wide.

Senegal continued to probe in the Algeria half and with seven minutes to play they spurned another glorious chance. Sarr collected a loose defensive header after a corner and sent it goalwards with his first touch, but it went over the crossbar once again.

But ultimately, Algeria did well to ride the wave of the Senegal's second-half pressure as they claimed their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1990. </s> Cameroon ended a 15-year wait to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the fifth time, a fantastic late individual goal from Vincent Aboubakar sealing victory as the Indomitable Lions came from a goal behind.

Egypt, looking to win their eighth Africa Cup of Nations, looked well set to repeat their favourite 1-0 scoreline after Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny rifled home to beat Fabrice Ondoa midway through the opening half.

But an inspired double substitution from coach Hugo Broos turned the final on its head, first Nicolas N’Koulou heading his side back into contention and, with extra time looking a certainty, Aboubakar controlled a long ball from Sebastien Siani before flicking the ball over Ali Gabr and firing home the winner.

It’s the first time Egypt have been defeated in the final since 1952 and Cameroon now become the second most successful side in the tournament’s history.

A goal fit to win any tournament: Vincent Aboubakar’s stunning late effort was a fitting way for Cameroon to win their title and a just end, with a tired Egypt possibly hoping for the lottery of penalties to win yet another title. </s> The record books may not show exactly how Algeria won their first Africa Cup of Nations since 1990 and, in any case, it is probably best left to the imagination. Their performances over the past month merit the accolade and that much cannot be denied; the pity was that they dropped any pretensions towards making this final a footballing spectacle after going ahead through Baghdad Bounedjah’s heavily deflected early goal, the result being a tedious encounter that grabbed the attention only during those few episodes when it seemed Senegal might punish their voracious lust for attrition.

It all amounted to a colossal riding of their luck but also a personal triumph for Djamel Belmadi, their impressive coach, who took the job only last August but has delivered a continental title where none was expected. He celebrated with his players, who raced towards a delirious 15,000-strong travelling support at full-time, while his childhood friend Aliou Cissé held a lengthy on-pitch debrief after narrowly failing to deliver Senegal a first title of their own.

Senegal 0-1 Algeria: Africa Cup of Nations 2019 final – as it happened Read more

Cissé might have had better fortune if the referee, Neant Alioum, had not reversed a second-half penalty award, given when the ball struck Adlene Guedioura’s right arm, after a VAR consultation. Spot kicks have certainly been awarded for less in major finals this year. But ultimately Senegal ran into too many of the traps Algeria set for them and the moments when Sadio Mané, as well as the rest of a vaunted front line, could influence proceedings were vanishingly rare.

“I’m so happy for my people, who have waited for such a long time,” Belmadi said. “We have won the cup outside our country for the first time. If you look at where we came from, I took a team that faced difficulties. To achieve what we have achieved, to finish on top of Africa, I have to say it is excellent.”

Despite the deeply frustrating fare they produced, this was indisputably a meeting of the tournament’s two best teams. In the end Algeria capitalised on the slight edge they held.

They had beaten Senegal by a single goal in the group stage and repeated the trick through their one attempt of the game, a moment that briefly confused the stadium into silence.

Boundejah’s burst down the inside-left channel past Lamine Gassama oozed menace but the shot he produced after cutting inside, which looped high into the air off Salif Sané, seemed destined for the athletics track behind the goal. But it spun downwards sharply, eventually dropping into the far corner, and the dawning realisation took a few moments to morph into unbridled delight.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez lifts the trophy as his team celebrate. Photograph: Visionhaus

Sané, injured earlier in the tournament, had returned to the starting lineup in place of the suspended Kalidou Koulibaly and Senegal’s weakness had been highlighted in the unluckiest fashion.

It did not take a doctorate in Algerian football ethics to divine that, from there, Belmadi’s side might seek to niggle this all the way out. They have played some fine attacking football in Egypt and such a grim final does not erase any of that. But few have quite as firm a handle on the dark arts and they successfully squeezed the air out of what followed.

Algeria deserved their Afcon triumph but a shame they decided to win ugly | Jonathan Wilson Read more

“They say you don’t play finals, you win them,” Belmadi said. “I don’t really believe that. We prepared and wanted to play against this talented team, Senegal. It wasn’t our best match. We didn’t have ball possession nor impose our play.”

In fairness it made some sense to cede the initiative to Senegal, for whom guile has long been an achilles heel. If their opponents began to get too clever, Algeria simply stuck spokes in the works. Aissa Mandi felled Mané with a crude challenge led from the knee and Ismaïla Sarr found himself on the end of a hack from Ramy Bensebaini. Sofiane Feghouli collapsed near the goalline before dusting himself down when sympathy proved in short supply. When tempers briefly flared on the half-time whistle, their substitute goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja took a dramatic tumble while Cissé and Mandi argued their way down the tunnel.

The break felt like a relief from the sheer cynicism of it all but the game did open up enough for Senegal to believe they had found a way back. Sarr, their best attacker on the day, made excellent ground down the right before seeing his cross hit Guedioura inside the area. It recalled Mané’s slice of fortune for Liverpool in Madrid two months previously but this time, after a delay of around a minute, Alioum opted to restart with a drop ball.

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“We played well and had our chances over the course of the match but against this aggressive bloc we couldn’t find a solution,” Cissé said. Mbaye Niang, from a tight angle after rounding Rais Mbolhi, and Sarr did spurn opportunities to make Algeria regret stalling to such an extreme degree. By the conclusion, though, their dirty work had been done to a strange, unsatisfactory perfection.
Algeria defeats Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations Final, winning their second continental championship.