Defending champions Algeria lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday in one of the biggest-ever upsets at the Africa Cup of Nations, with a defender who was playing in the fifth tier in Spain last year scoring the goal that beat Riyad Mahrez and his superstar teammates.
Esteban Obiang arrived at the back post to connect with a corner in the 70th minute for Equatorial Guinea’s winner, ending a four-year unbeaten run for the African champion and leaving its title defense in Cameroon in pieces.
Algeria fans dropped their heads and cried in the Japoma Stadium in Douala.
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Algeria launched attack after desperate attack on the Equatorial Guinea goal in the last 10 minutes but Mahrez and his team couldn’t find a way past 20-year-old goalkeeper Jesus Owono.
Algeria had two goals correctly disallowed for offside, one in the first half and one in that frantic search for an equalizer.
After being surprisingly held 0-0 by Sierra Leone in its first game, Algeria is bottom of Group E going into a final group game against former champion Ivory Coast.
‘I am delighted with this victory against a great and beautiful team from Algeria, it was not an easy match but we managed to build our victory,’ Equatorial Guinea coach Juan Obiang said.
‘The qualification for the next round is not yet acquired and tomorrow we will project ourselves on the match against Sierra Leone. The objective is to get a very good result.
‘This evening, I have a thought for all the Equatoguineans living in Cameroon and our people who support us and push us to move forward.’
Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi said: ‘It’s not the expected result and yet we did everything, we got several chances but the ball did not go in.
‘We are in a situation of failure, it is a lean moment. Football is not always about rational reasons but let’s be sure, we will fight to stay in this competition. It will be against a great team from Côte d’Ivoire which is made up of players playing in the biggest leagues. ‘Regarding the opponent, Equatorial Guinea, they defended with a lot of desire, determination and we couldn’t find the fault, it’s a situation of failure. (Dailymail)
