AFCON 2017: When the Cup's favourites met the Eagles

The big Saharan Derby went down Thursday afternoon when Africa Cup of Nations favourites Algeria met the Eagles from Carthage, Tunisia.

Narrated

3 min read

Uri Levy

19 Jan, 2017

Tunisia's Ahmed Akaichi (R) in action at the Stade de Franceville [Getty]

The big Saharan Derby went down Thursday afternoon in Franceville, Gabon, when Africa Cup of Nations favourites – Algeria – met the Eagles from Carthage, Tunisia.

The days prior the match included a lot of clashes between Algerian and Tunisian fans in Tunis and Algiers. The match was highly important for both teams in order to progress from AFCON 2017's most hardest group.

Algeria opened the match in a very determined attitude and looked very dangerous in the first moments. Chances by Slimani, Brahimi and Mahrez signalled that the Saharan Foxes are going for the victory.

The almost empty stadium produced a quiet atmosphere, not the expected true ‘derby ambiance’.

Tunisia then started to threat on Asselah’s goal. Akaichi missed a few good chances, while Khazri tried again and again to test the Algerian goalkeeper from distance.

The game enjoyed a good pace, when both teams attacked each other and the ball flowed from one side to other very quickly.

With all the chances both teams couldn’t find the net in the first half, and the players went to dressing rooms in a 0-0 result on half time.

The second half saw the exact same rhythm of the first – aggressive, quick but indecisive.

In the 49th minute the shift took place. Tunisia scored thanks to an own goal by Mandi, after Msakni’s cross from the left side surprised the Algerian keeper – score now, 1-0 Tunisia.

Algeria was now in trouble as the Tunisians took over the show.

A mistake 63 minutes into the game won Tunisia a penalty after Tunisia’s Wahabi Khazri went into a counter attack, but was tripped by Fouzi Ghoulam in the box. Double trouble for Algeria.

Naim Sliti, (married to an Algerian woman) secured the goal as Tunisia shocked favourites Algeria – an amazing 2-0 to the Eagles of Carthage!

Every ball went in the favour of Tunisia from then on. Every whistle, every tackle, every shot. Algeria wasn’t in the game anymore.

Into the 90th minute, Algeria suddenly got a goal back – Sofiane Hanni bombed in to the high post after a superb attack. The Algerians seemed encouraged to get at least a point from this derby, but their moves in attack looked clumsy, numb and again – very indecisive.

Algeria could only hope for a miracle in the form of the result between Senegal and Zimbabwe later tonight and their match against Senegal in the final day of the AFCON group stage.

Tunisia, now with better chances to qualify than the Algerians, also will watch the match tonight and will hope to win against the surprising Zimbabweans in the next match.

Algeria: M. Asselah; M. Meftah (yellow card 31'); A. Mandi (own goal 50'); F. Ghoulam (yellow card 65'); R. Bensebaini; A. Guédioura (yellow card 14' – sub- Abeid 93’); N. Bentaleb; Y. Brahimi (sub – Hanni 74’ – goal 90’); I. Slimani; R. Mahrez ; R. Ghezzal (sub – Bounedjah 69’) Coach: G. Leekens

Tunisia: A. Mathlouthi (sub – Jridi 88’); A. Abdennour; S. Ben Youssef; A. Maâloul (yellow card 45+2');H. Nagguez; W. Khazri (sub – Yacoubi 73’); N. Sliti (goal pen. 66');F. Sassi; M. Ben Amor; Y. Msakni; A. Akaïchi (sub –Khneissi 78’).

Uri Levy runs the popular football blog BabaGol, which covers football and politics focusing on the Middle East. Follow him on Twitter, and read his blog here.