Angola fight back to draw with Fennec Foxes

Angola was the latest unfavoured AFCON team to get an unlikely result against a more established side after earning a draw against Algeria.

It was Algeria who started the game the better with Youcef Belaili forcing Neblú into a save early on in the game.

The opening goal eventually arrived in the 18th minute when Belaili's long ball over the top found Baghdad Bounedjah in behind the Angola defence. The experienced striker finished the chance beautifully with a clever outside-of-the-boot finish.

Bounedjah almost scored the goal of the tournament just a few minutes later when a ball from the right was met with a spectacular overhead kick that had Neblú beaten. Unfortunately though, the Al-Sadd man was just offside when he received the ball, robbing us of what may well have ended up as the goal of the tournament.

Angola were outclassed for much of the first half but were much improved in the second as Djamel Belmadi's side failed to build on their lead.

The equaliser came from the penalty spot when Nabil Bentaleb was penalised for a found on Mabululu. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United man went to clear a ball but instead ended up striking the Angola forward who got there a split second earlier.

Mabululu stepped up to take the penalty and fired it into the crossbar before converting the rebound. Fortunately for Mabululu, the ball had already crossed the line after bouncing off the underside of the bar as otherwise his rebound would have been ruled out with a penalty taker unable to touch the ball following a penalty until another player does so first.

Algeria struggled to find the same attacking impetus they displayed in the first half with Riyad Mahrez unable to put his stamp on the game.

There was a late free-kick that forced Neblú into a smart save but it was overall a point that the Black Sable Antelopes deserved for their spirited second-half performance.

⌚️ FULL-TIME!

One point each as Mabululu's equalizer cancels out Baghdad's early lead. 🤝#ALGANG | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/rKuUvR4PC1

— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 15, 2024